From Delay to Development: North Slope Lease Sales Return

SCOOP – INTERIOR’S DESIRED TIMELINE FOR ALASKAN DRILLING LEASE SALES: The Trump administration is moving full steam ahead with opening Alaska’s North Slope to more oil and gas drilling, with multiple lease sales in the region set to be held this year. 

The Interior Department confirmed to Callie this week that it plans to hold its first sale in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in 2026. The agency first announced that it would be opening the roughly 1.56 million-acre area along the edge of the Beaufort Sea for fossil fuel leasing in October, but had not yet confirmed when the first lease sale would be held. 

The agency is required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to hold four lease sales in the region over the next seven years. 

Interior has also rolled back Biden administration protections for the National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska – also located in the North Slope – to open more access to drilling operations. In October, the Bureau of Land Management published a call for nominations and comments on what areas should be held in its first lease sale in the NPR-A. 

At the time, the agency said the sale would take place over the 2025-2026 winter. The agency confirmed to Callie this week that it still plans to hold the sale in the first quarter of this year. Interior declined to provide any additional information as to what tracts of land could be included due to its sealed bid process. The agency plans to hold five lease sales in the NPR-A over the next 10 years. 

From the Washington Examiner, Daily on Energy, January 28, 2026

There’s a lot happening in Alaska mining—and it’s all pointing in the right direction. Exploration is up, projects are progressing through development, and companies are making long-term commitments to operate in Alaska. It’s a reminder that when Alaska’s resources are developed responsibly, the benefits ripple across the state for workers, families, and future generations.

Hecla’s 2025 silver production tops 17M oz
Shane Lasley, North of 60 Mining News, January 26, 2026

Anchored by continued robust output at its Greens Creek mine in Southeast Alaska, Hecla Mining Company produced more than 17 million ounces of silver and 150,000 oz of gold in 2025.

With strong performance at all its North American operations, including exceeding annual production guidance at the Lucky Friday mine in Idaho, Hecla tested the upper limits of the production guidance it set out at the onset of 2025.

Tower Hill to raise $105M for Livengood
Shane Lasley, North of 60 Mining News, January 23, 2026

Company to use funds to advance work to support a feasibility study for the13.6-million-oz gold project in Alaska.

As the price of gold sits at the cusp of $5,000 per ounce, International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. has pulled together a $105 million financing to advance exploration and development at its 13.6-million-ounce Livengood gold mine project in Alaska.

Paulson & Co. Inc., which already owns a 33.8% interest in Tower Hill, has agreed to invest $40 million into the gold development company via a private placement. At the same time, Tower Hill is raising an additional $65 million from a public offering of 29.28 million shares at $2.22 per share.

The company plans to use the $105 million raised during this financing to advance exploration and development of the highway-accessible Livengood project about 70 miles north of Fairbanks.