(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - A new project manager has been named for the proposed Ajax Mine after Clyde Gillespie was let go earlier this week.

New project manager Chris Wild says Gillespie left the position yesterday, May 31, after two years with KGHM Ajax Mining Ltd.

“It’s as simple as we needed a change,” he says. “We’re moving in a somewhat different direction. Really it's about consolidating where we are.”

Wild explains the new direction is 'a change in style, new leadership, a reorganizing of the team to meet the needs of where we are now in the environmental assessment process'.

As Wild takes the helm as project manager, a press release also announces Jan Peisert is the new CEO of the project. Peisert is also the head of KGHM International and based in Vancouver.

Last week seven people were laid off by the mining company. Wild says there are now 14 people employed in Kamloops.

“We’re comfortable with the team we have right now to take us to the next step,” he says.

Wild was the project’s chief geologist for two and a half years prior to be named project manager this week. He has lived in Kamloops for 13 years.

The proposed copper and gold mine is currently under a temporary suspension of its environmental assessment while the company responds to the questions and concerns from government agencies and which came out of the public consultation period. Wild says the suspension may last through the summer.

“Our hope is that we’ll start the environmental assessment clock later this fall,” he says.

If able to meet that schedule, Wild expects the decision phase of the environmental application could come at the end of 2016 or beginning of 2017.

If approved the open-pit mine will operate immediately southwest of Kamloops for roughly 20 years.

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