I was basing that we would be the operator on previous discussions here. I hope there was some basis for it, but I dont remember what it is.

I'm sure I've said it before myself, but I read the contract over before responding and it doesn't actually say that. After they earned their way back into the project then there is a complicated clause that says they will form a JV and Copper Fox will be the operator unless Teck's interest is at least 40%. They only have to spend $250K per year.

It doesn't seem to be a very well-written contract because there are lots of holes in it.

There really isn't anything to move Teck along before they earned back the amount they chose. They had to spend 4X but not over any period, and they could spend it on what they wanted, and Teck maintained the right to decide whether to put it into production or not. I can certainly see why the contract was abandoned.