Gold Fields and its subsidiary Windfall Mining Group have received the certificate of authorisation from Quebec’s environment ministry that is required to begin construction of the Windfall mining project in Eeyou Istchee Baie-James. The certificate confirms the project has completed the environmental and social impact assessment and review process under Title II of Quebec’s Environment Quality Act, including review by the Environmental and Social Impact Review Committee and public hearings held in Lebel-sur-Quevillon and Waswanipi in the spring of 2026.
The approval follows the signing in June 2026 of the Uukiimau Agreement, an impact and benefit agreement with the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi, the Cree Nation Government and the Grand Council of the Crees. With the agreement signed and the certificate issued, the mining lease and secondary permits can now be obtained, and remobilisation at the site will begin shortly, with underground activities expected to resume progressively.
Windfall is one of the highest grade gold projects in Canada and is expected to produce approximately 300,000 ounces of gold per year once ramped up. Gold Fields had been forced to pause underground development at the end of August when a bulk exploration permit expired while the environmental approval was outstanding, and the company had warned that the delay was eating into the summer construction season. Management said at the time that the build cost was moving toward the upper end of its previous 1.7 billion to 1.9 billion US dollar range, partly because of scope changes requested by environmental agencies.
The project remains at the pre construction stage. Gold Fields said it will now progress the final investment decision and expects to publish it by February 2027 alongside its 2026 provisional results. The company has previously targeted first gold in 2029, a schedule that depends on how quickly the remaining permits and the construction decision follow the certificate.
For Gold Fields, Windfall is the growth asset that anchors its North American future after it took full ownership through the acquisition of Osisko Mining. The certificate converts the project’s central risk from regulatory timing back to execution and capital discipline, and the February decision will show the final cost the company is prepared to underwrite at current gold prices.