Primary Hydrogen Corp. announced progress in its permitting process for the Wicheeda North project, located in the Cariboo Mining Division of British Columbia. The application was submitted on August 1 and is currently undergoing the mandatory consultation process with First Nations, as required by provincial regulations.
Drilling timeline dependent on administrative delays
The company expects to complete the regulatory process in early Q1 2026, pending delays within the responsible ministries. Once approvals are secured, Primary Hydrogen plans to contract drilling companies to plan and execute its first exploration programme at the site.
The Wicheeda North project spans 2,138 hectares within the Rocky Mountain Trench, a geological corridor favourable for carbonatite intrusions associated with rare earth element (REE) deposits. Historical exploration work has identified seven targets with magnetic anomalies and elevated REE concentrations in soil and rock samples.
Strategic geological positioning
The site is located approximately 5 kilometres northwest of Defense Metals Corp.’s Wicheeda deposit, which holds a National Instrument 43-101 compliant Measured and Indicated Resource of 29.3 million tonnes at 2.27% Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO), along with an Inferred Resource of 5.7 million tonnes at 1.40% TREO. The proximity and similar geology strengthen the project’s strategic potential for Primary Hydrogen in a market increasingly focused on critical materials.
Organisational change in technical leadership
The company also confirmed the departure of Peter Lauder, formerly Vice President of Exploration. His responsibilities will now be managed by internal staff and qualified third-party contractors for the operational phase of the drilling programme. No direct replacement has been announced.
Primary Hydrogen sees Wicheeda North as a potential growth lever in Canada’s emerging rare earth sector. Progress in the permitting phase marks a key milestone before any operational commitments on site.
