Yellowknife, N.W.T. - A Belgian engineering firm has said that the Con Mine site has a sizable energy supply beneath it.

Vito Engineering issued its findings to the city last week about just how much and how sustainable any sort of energy supply located at the site is and it appears there is 1.7 megawatts worth which could be used for heating purposes in the city.

That's good news to mayor Gord van Tighem and he said one thing the firm found was if you have a surplus of heat in the community, it can be re-used again.

"It could be reintroduced into the mine in which case you are super charging what's there and you have significantly more ability to generate heat," said van Tighem.

If and when the Con Mine District Energy Project gets off the ground, van Tighem said they will start with the area of highest intensity, which has not yet been determined.

"Which then allows you to recover some of the investment that goes into building the system as you reach certain stages in the recovery or as other applications become available you expand it out from the centre," he explained.

The final cost of the project is still under consideration.

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