Trump Administration Reinstates Ambler Access Project Permits, Paving Way for Major Copper Development

The Trump administration has issued a decision granting permits for the Ambler Access Project, reversing the Biden administration's earlier termination of the project's right-of-way grant. President Trump exercised authority under Section 1106 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act to uphold an appeal by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority against the June 2024 "No Action Alternative" that had halted the project.

The presidential directive requires federal agencies to reinstate and finalize all necessary permits to ensure feasible access to the Ambler Mining District for economic, industrial, and commercial purposes. This decision carries significant implications for resource development in northwestern Alaska, where the Ambler Mining District represents one of the richest copper-dominant districts globally. Congressional mandate under ANILCA Section 1106 specifically requires that transportation access "shall be granted" to the district, providing the legal foundation for AIDEA's direct appeal and the subsequent presidential action.

The Ambler Mining District hosts world-class polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits containing copper, zinc, lead, gold, and silver, along with carbonate replacement deposits featuring high-grade copper and cobalt mineralization. Exploration has concentrated on two primary deposits within the district: the Arctic VMS deposit and the Bornite carbonate replacement deposit, both situated within a land package spanning approximately 190,929 hectares. Additional information about the company's developments can be found at https://ibn.fm/qELqt.

Trilogy Metals Inc., which holds a 50 percent interest in Ambler Metals LLC, stands to benefit significantly from this decision. Ambler Metals maintains full ownership of the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects in the Ambler Mining District and operates through a joint venture with South32, a globally diversified mining company that exercised its option to form a 50/50 partnership with Trilogy in December 2019. The company's vision focuses on developing the Ambler Mining District into a premier North American copper producer while protecting subsistence livelihoods through its cooperative framework with NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., an Alaska Native Corporation.

This presidential decision reaffirms federal commitment to balancing resource development with environmental stewardship in Alaska, potentially accelerating the timeline for bringing substantial copper and cobalt resources to market amid growing demand for these critical minerals. The reinstatement of permits ensures that transportation infrastructure development can proceed, addressing one of the key challenges facing mineral development in remote Alaskan regions. The decision represents a significant shift in federal resource policy and could substantially impact North America's position in the global critical minerals supply chain, particularly for copper and cobalt essential for renewable energy technologies and electrification infrastructure.