‘Deep will be the new norm’ — Glencore spends $1B to find new ore beneath Sudbury – by Erik White (CBC News Sudbury – April 5, 2018)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/

First ore expected in about 4 years, with full production by 2025

Glencore is spending nearly $1 billion to mine new ore underneath Sudbury. The Onaping Depth project was announced at the same time as Vale revealed plans to go ahead with its multi-million dollar expansion of Copper Cliff Mine, also known as “Copper Cliff Deep.”

“I think deep will be the new norm and certainly in Sudbury, that’s where the future lies,” said Peter Xavier, Glencore vice-president of Sudbury operations.

The deposit is located 2,500 metres beneath the mothballed Craig Mine in Onaping and was found in the 1990s. Xavier says it’s taken years of planning to figure out how to mine safely and economically at that low level.

He says it’s also getting the greenlight now, despite nickel and other metal prices being in a prolonged slump, because Glencore’s two other Sudbury mines — Nickel Rim and Fraser — will be wrapped up by 2025, just as Onaping Depth hits full production.

Xavier says that new ore is needed to feed the company’s mill and smelter and maintain the Sudbury workforce of 1,300 employees, plus 500 contractors. “Because it comes at the tail end of our existing operations, it would be more accurate to say it sustains our existing presence.” he said.

For the rest of this article: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/onaping-depth-sudbury-mining-1.4604208