The Silver Valley’s most storied mining operation has crossed a threshold that few thought possible just a decade ago: the Bunker Hill Mine has produced its first concentrated ore in 45 years, marking a pivotal moment in the long-running effort to restore commercial mining to Kellogg and the surrounding communities of Shoshone County.
The concentrate was produced earlier this week at the mine’s mill, which carries an 1,800-ton-per-day design capacity. The material will be trucked north to British Columbia for smelting — a logistical step that keeps the Silver Valley operation moving while domestic smelting arrangements develop.
A Six-Year Push Through Setbacks
Sam Ash, President and CEO of Bunker Hill Mining Co., was appointed to lead the restart more than six years ago and has guided the project through a gauntlet of obstacles including pandemic restrictions, financial difficulties, and the added complexity of operating within a federal Superfund site. His reaction to the milestone was direct: “This is a defining moment for both the new Bunker Hill and the communities of Kellogg and Wardner.”
The road to this point was anything but smooth. Regulatory hurdles tied to the Superfund designation added layers of oversight that slowed permitting and operational timelines. Financial setbacks required the company to restructure its approach more than once. That the operation has now produced concentrate — the first since the historic mine shuttered in 1981 — represents a genuine turning point for a workforce that has been building toward this day.
The company currently employs more than 200 local workers, a payroll that has provided meaningful economic support to the Silver Valley during the ramp-up phase.
Commercial Production the Next Benchmark
Producing concentrate is a milestone, but full commercial production remains the goal. Bunker Hill Mining defines commercial production as sustaining at least 65 percent of mill capacity — a minimum of 1,170 tons per day — for 90 consecutive days. Ash acknowledged the work still ahead, noting that “although we are just starting the ramp-up to commercial production — expected by the end of 2026,” the company is pressing forward with confidence.
Beyond that threshold, the company is already eyeing further growth. Expansion plans under discussion would push production capacity from the current 1,800-ton design to 2,500 tons per day, a move that would substantially increase both output and the mine’s regional economic footprint.
The historic Bunker Hill operation ran for nearly a century before its closure, producing over 165 million ounces of silver and 4.5 million tons of base metals. At its peak it was one of the largest silver-lead-zinc producers in the world, and its closure in 1981 gutted the Silver Valley economy for a generation. The revival of concentrate production, even at the ramp-up stage, carries symbolic weight that extends well beyond a balance sheet.
What Comes Next
Bunker Hill Mining’s near-term focus is the steady climb toward commercial production thresholds before the end of 2026. Concentrate shipments to British Columbia will continue as the mill ramps up throughput. The company’s expansion planning to 2,500 tons per day is a longer-horizon objective that would likely require additional permitting and capital investment. For Shoshone County, every ton processed represents progress toward the kind of durable mining economy the Silver Valley sustained for most of the twentieth century. Follow ongoing economic and energy developments across the region at Avista’s data center agreement coverage and stay connected with regional news through Idaho News Network.