Skeena Gold & Silver's Eskay Creek was rated the best mining project globally in Mining Journal Intelligence's (MJI) Project Pipeline Index 2025 report, following a detailed evaluation of more than 600 assets globally.
The British Columbia gold project scored 89.6 out of 100 in MJI's unique evaluation process. This methodology uses 23 data points from the latest technical reports (from PEA/scoping to feasibility level) to assess projects across 13 metrics in six categories: Economics, Jurisdiction, Confidence, Financeability, Engineering/Metallurgy, and Geology.
Based on a 2023 feasibility study, Eskay Creek performed strongly across all categories. Skeena expects to secure an environmental permit in 2025 with first production scheduled for 2027.
Eskay Creek's overall score was nearly four points ahead of Rupert Resources' second-placed Ikkari gold asset in Finland, which scored 86.0, using data from a 2025 PFS. Rupert is advancing a feasibility study and environmental impact assessment with a target of first gold production in 2030.
The top 10 assets, along with trends in the full PPI database, are revealed in a free webinar, featuring a discussion with veteran resources investor Rick Rule. A free excerpt of the report is available here.
Precious metals focus
Precious metals projects dominated among the top performers, accounting for six of the top 10. The recent surge in gold and silver prices boosted project scores in the Economics, Confidence and Financeability categories.
Two uranium assets in Canada's Saskatchewan province – Denison Mines' Phoenix (Wheeler River) and NexGen Energy's Rook I – were the highest-scoring assets outside of the gold and silver space, ranking third and sixth, with scores of 86.0 and 82.8, respectively (the projects were the top scorers in the 2024 PPI).
While there were several familiar names, the top 10 also featured some new entrants. Vizsla Silver's Panuco primary silver asset in Mexico took the fourth spot after a 2024 PEA, outlining a 10.6-year underground operation producing 15.2 Mozpa AgEq at average all-in sustaining costs of US$9.40/oz.
Northern Star's Hemi gold asset in Western Australia was fifth with a score of 83.0 (the company acquired Hemi in its takeover of De Grey Mining, which completed in May). De Grey had outlined a measured and indicated resource containing 8.1 Moz of gold at an average grade of 1.5 g/t, and anticipated first production in H2 2026.
Expanded database
This year's report followed a major expansion of the PPI Database, which stood at 612 ‘live' assets in May (projects are removed when they enter production). This was up a third from 459 in the 2024 edition.
Data from more than 200 new studies were added in 2025, with more than 400 projects checked for updates.
The full suite of MJI research reports is available for free for Premium subscribers. To purchase or read the 2025 PPI click here. A free excerpt is available here.
To access the free webinar, featuring veteran resources investor Rick Rule, click here.
