Interview with Keith Boyle, CEO of New Found Gold, and Darren Cooke, CEO of FireFly Metals

Recording date: 3rd May 2026

Newfoundland and Labrador is rapidly emerging as a premier mining jurisdiction, attracting significant investment due to its efficient permitting, established infrastructure, and strong labour pool. Industry leaders Keith Boyle of New Found Gold and Darren Cooke of Firefly Metals highlight how these advantages are reshaping project economics and timelines compared to other regions.

A key differentiator is the province’s collaborative regulatory approach. Companies work closely with government agencies before formal submissions, enabling unusually fast approvals illustrated by Firefly’s environmental assessment completed in just 45 days. This proactive process, combined with relatively straightforward Indigenous consultation frameworks, reduces delays that often extend mine development elsewhere.

Infrastructure plays a central role in lowering costs and accelerating timelines. New Found Gold benefits from proximity to transportation and power networks, as well as its acquisition of the Pine Cove Mill, which eliminated the need to build new processing facilities. Firefly Metals similarly leverages approximately $250 million in existing underground development at its Green Bay project, including deep access infrastructure that would otherwise take տարին to replicate. These factors significantly compress capital requirements and construction schedules.

Both companies are advancing distinct but complementary strategies. New Found Gold is targeting production by late 2027 with modest capital expenditure of $155 million, focusing initially on high-grade zones averaging 12 grams per tonne. This approach is expected to generate over $300 million in annual cash flow at current gold prices. Meanwhile, Firefly’s Green Bay project combines its large 80 million tonne resource with strong grades, positioning it as a rare near-term copper development asset. The company is well funded and exploring non-dilutive financing through offtake agreements.

Importantly, Newfoundland’s returning skilled workforce supports these accelerated timelines without the labour shortages seen in other regions. Together, these advantages enable both companies to pursue development timelines closer to six years, significantly faster than the typical decade-long cycle in the global mining industry.