Archive | Chromium/Platinum Group Metals

Chrome rakes in US$100m – by Ishemunyoro Chingwere (The Herald – June 10, 2019)

June 10, 2019 in Africa Mining, Chromium/Platinum Group Metals, International Media Resource Articles

https://www.herald.co.zw/

HIGH carbon ferrochrome exports have registered a 35 percent jump in the first quarter of the year compared to 85 000 tonnes produced the same period last year, earning the country US$100 million, according to official statistics.

The industry has continued to heed President Mnangagwa’s call not to export unbeneficiated chrome. The first four months of the year saw the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) shipping out 115 000 tonnes of high carbon ferrochrome compared to 85 000 tonnes last year.

Statistics from MMCZ show that the exports also earned the country US$95,5 million up from US$84,9 million, which signifies a 12,4 percent increase in monetary value. Continue Reading →

No viable substitute for critical chromium – by Shane Lasley (North of 60 Mining News – May 25, 2019)

May 31, 2019 in Alaska Mining, Chromium/Platinum Group Metals, International Media Resource Articles

https://www.miningnewsnorth.com/

Stainless-steel ingredient mined in Alaska during both World Wars

A vital ingredient in stainless steel and superalloys, chromium is considered by the United States Geological Survey as “one of the nation’s most important strategic and critical materials.”

“Because there is no viable substitute for chromium in the production of stainless steel and because the United States has small chromium resources, there has been concern about domestic supply during every national military emergency since World War I,” the USGS explains.

Rich chromite deposits on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula were able to ease some of these concerns by providing a domestic supply of chromite, the only mineral of chromium metal, to help fill America’s increased demand for chromium during both World Wars. Continue Reading →

Ring of Fire bungling jeopardizes Green prosperity for North – by Steve May (Sudbury Star – May 18, 2019)

May 21, 2019 in Canadian Regional Media and Web Publications, Chromium/Platinum Group Metals, Ontario Mining, Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

https://www.thesudburystar.com/

Buried beneath the feet of Northern Ontarians are the materials that will drive the green economy. Nickel, copper, cobalt and lithium are needed in abundance for batteries that will store electric energy.

The world is already shifting from greenhouse gas-emitting fossil energy sources like coal, oil and natural gas in an effort to minimize the very worst effects of climate change. Northern Ontario, with our abundant mineral resources, is strategically positioned to be a global leader in the clean economy.

Leadership requires commitment – and that’s always been a problem for Northern Ontario, a vast but sparsely populated region that is far too often treated as a resource colony by governments and investors located in southern Ontario. Our region’s mineral wealth is far too often seen as resources ripe for exploitation, rather than as the building blocks for our own prosperity. Continue Reading →

Batchewana First Nation will ‘decide’ fate of ferrochrome facility bid: Chief – by Elaine Della-Mattia (Sault Star – May 10, 2019)

May 13, 2019 in Aboriginal and Inuit Mining and Oil/Gas, Canadian Regional Media and Web Publications, Chromium/Platinum Group Metals, Ontario Mining, Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

https://www.saultstar.com/

Batchewana First Nation Chief Dean Sayers says he’s ready and willing to have meaningful consultation with all parties about whether his government can support Noront Resources’s proposed ferrochrome facility in Sault Ste. Marie.

He says he’s willing to set the table and invite others who want to enter into “meaningful” dialogue and follow the “inherent right and jurisdiction” Batchewana will exercise during the quest to find common ground.

“We’re going to do that in the very near future, with Noront and with the city (of Sault Ste. Marie), he said. And only when common ground is found and Batchewana First Nation is satisfied that the environment and its people will be protected, will the First Nation support a ferrochrome plant, he said. Continue Reading →

Could Northern Ontario produce its own stainless steel? – by Lindsay Kelly (Northern Ontario Business – May 10, 2019)

May 10, 2019 in Canadian Regional Media and Web Publications, Chromium/Platinum Group Metals, Ontario Mining, Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery, Steel and Stainless Steel Industries

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Could Northern Ontario manufacture its own stainless steel using chromite from the Ring of Fire? It was a popular topic of conversation during the 2019 gathering of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM).

Held May 8-10 in Sudbury, the conference welcomed close to 200 representatives from member municipalities scattered across northeastern Ontario, who discussed best practices, along with new challenges they’re facing following the April release of the provincial budget.

With the conference following on the heels of the announcement that Noront Resources had selected Sault Ste. Marie for its chromite smelter to process ore from the Ring of Fire, industrial energy costs was another hot topic amongst attendees. Continue Reading →

Sudbury: Noront CEO says company ‘has the chops’ to pull off Ring of Fire project (CBC News Sudbury – May 8, 2019)

May 9, 2019 in Canadian Media Resource Articles, Chromium/Platinum Group Metals, Ontario Mining, Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

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

Timmins mayor vows to push for facility, though company wants to build in Sault Ste. Marie

The head of a company planning to build a ferrochrome smelter in Sault Ste. Marie says he’s confident the project will move forward as planned.

On Tuesday, Noront Resources announced it will build its smelter to process ore from the Ring of Fire in Sault Ste. Marie. The company had narrowed down two locations for the project: Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie. In response to the announcement, the mayor of Timmins stated “it’s not over until it’s over.”

“We know it will be a number of years before any facilities are built,” George Pirie said. “We think that we’ll have time to affect the decision. We don’t think Noront will be the company that builds the facility. They don’t have deep enough pockets required to build it and will have to bring in a bigger partner.” Continue Reading →

Consultation and engagement the new mining norm: Noront CEO: Al Coutts shares learned experience during student workshop – by Lindsay Kelly (Northern Ontario Business – May 7, 2019)

May 8, 2019 in Canadian Regional Media and Web Publications, Chromium/Platinum Group Metals, Ontario Mining, Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Al Coutts was working as chief geologist for Falconbridge at Kidd Mines in Timmins when he got the big break he had been waiting for: a promotion to mine manager.

It had been his goal to work in Sudbury where the big mines were, and Coutts felt like he had finally made it. But he hadn’t been celebrating long when his boss, Warren Holmes, broke the news that Coutts wouldn’t be posted to Sudbury, but to Raglan Mine, situated on the Ungava Peninsula in remote Québec.

He was visibly disappointed, until his boss delivered some sage words of advice. “It’s one thing to earn your opportunity,” Coutts, the current president and CEO of Noront Resources, recalled Holmes saying. “And it’s another thing to see it and take it when it’s staring you in the face.” Continue Reading →

Great Lakes port swayed Noront Resources in picking Sault for ferrochrome plant – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – May 7, 2019)

May 8, 2019 in Canadian Regional Media and Web Publications, Chromium/Platinum Group Metals, Ontario Mining, Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Smelter announcement sets wheels in motion for Queen’s Park to release Ring of Fire development strategy

Noront Resources president-CEO Alan Coutts decided it was finally time to end the suspense. After months, even years, of deferred decisions by the Ring of Fire mine developer to select a location for its ferrochrome production facility, the Toronto-based junior miner picked Sault Ste. Marie to be the host community for the proposed $1.1-billion smelter.

The company made its announcement in the Sault, May 7, informing the community of its plans to place the facility on Algoma Steel’s expansive brownfield port lands, just west of the steelworks.

The Sault and Timmins were the two finalists in the running to host the smelter in a site selection process orchestrated by Noront in February 2018. Thunder Bay and Sudbury were eliminated from contention last July. Continue Reading →

[Timmins] City still has sights on ferrochrome plant – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – May 8, 2019)

May 8, 2019 in Canadian Regional Media and Web Publications, Chromium/Platinum Group Metals, Ontario Mining, Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery, Timmins

https://www.timminspress.com/

Timmins officials not deterred by Noront announcement to accept Sault’s bid as the site for a proposed ferrochrome processing facility.

Timmins officials are not giving up hope. In light of Tuesday’s announcement by Noront Resources in favour of Sault Ste. Marie as the location for its ferrochrome processing facility, Timmins officials vow to continue to press a case for locating the smelter here.

Timmins’ hopes rest on a likelihood that when it comes time to start construction, Noront, a junior mining company, may not be the one calling the shots.

“We believe that there is lots of time to affect this decision simply because Noront will not be the company that builds this facility,” said Mayor George Pirie, who hosted a press conference in the boardroom of the Timmins Economic Development Corporation Tuesday afternoon. Continue Reading →

[Ferrochrome Processing Facility] Noront chooses Sault Ste. Marie – by Elaine Della-Mattia (Sault Star – May 7, 2019)

May 7, 2019 in Canadian Regional Media and Web Publications, Chromium/Platinum Group Metals, Ontario Mining, Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

https://www.saultstar.com/

Noront Resources has selected Sault Ste. Marie to be the host of its ferrochrome processing facility. CEO Alan Coutts said the lower operating costs over the 100-year period, is what set Sault Ste. Marie out from Timmins.

Sault Ste. Marie will be the home of a new ferrochrome processing facility, said Alan Coutts, CEO of Noront Resources.

He made the official announcement at city hall Tuesday morning, concluding that the final analysis completed between the shortlisted cities – Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins – suggests while Timmins may have lower capital expenditure costs, Sault Ste. Marie’s operating costs will be lower, a significant factor for the 100-year operation.

The lower operating costs is what tipped the balance in Sault Ste. Marie’s favour, he said. As well, the completion of Algoma’s Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act proceedings allowed Noront Resources to have thorough discussions with the steelmaker’s new owners to ensure that a long-term lease arrangement between the two parties could be reached. Continue Reading →

NEWS RELEASE: Noront Selects Sault Ste. Marie Site for Ferrochrome Production Facility

May 7, 2019 in Chromium/Platinum Group Metals, Ontario Mining, Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

TORONTO, May 07, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Noront Resources Ltd. (“Noront” or the “Company”) (TSX Venture: NOT) has selected the Algoma Steel Inc. site in Sault Ste. Marie for its Ferrochrome Production Facility (FPF). The Timmins Kidd Metsite is no longer being considered.

Four communities participated in the initial bidding process which began in February 2018. All submissions were evaluated based on a comprehensive set of criteria determined by Noront and the engineering firm Hatch, which was engaged to assist in the adjudication process. Critical factors included environmental and site suitability, capital costs, operating costs and an assessment of community acceptance for hosting the facility.

Sudbury and Thunder Bay were eliminated in July of 2018. After a thorough and rigorous analysis of the two remaining sites in Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins, the Timmins Kidd Metsite was eliminated as well. A further refinement of the operating and capital costs of the final sites was completed with the following results: Continue Reading →

Confidence abounds over Ring of Fire development – by Karen McKinley (Northern Ontario Business – February 22, 2019)

February 23, 2019 in Aboriginal and Inuit Mining and Oil/Gas, Canadian Regional Media and Web Publications, Chromium/Platinum Group Metals, Ontario Mining, Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

NORONT CEO tells Sudbury audience ore could be mined from Eagle’s Nest by 2024

If all goes well, the first load of ore concentrate could be coming out of the Ring of Fire by 2024. But before that, a lot of variables need to be addressed. Most critically, government commitment to funding and permitting, as well as smelter selection and road construction.

Even then, Alan Coutts said Noront Resources has contingency plans for several scenarios. Even taking ore processing out of province, if need be.

He gave an audience gathered for the Sudbury chapter of the Canadian Institute of Mining’s annual Winterlude event an update on where the corporation is at in their plan on Feb. 21. Continue Reading →

Rickford promises progress in the Ring of Fire – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – January 24, 2018)

January 25, 2019 in Aboriginal and Inuit Mining and Oil/Gas, Canadian Regional Media and Web Publications, Chromium/Platinum Group Metals, Nickel, Ontario Mining, Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Indigenous communities to reap the rewards, benefits of natural resource development

Provincial cabinet minister Greg Rickford offered a stay-tuned response to the government’s plans to advance the construction of an access corridor to the Ring of Fire.

The minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, and Indigenous Affairs was in Sudbury to reaffirm the Ford government’s commitment to opening up the mineral deposits in the remote James Bay region.

In his Jan. 23 remarks at the Procurement, Employment, Partnerships Conference in Sudbury, Rickford referred to the James Bay mineral belt as a “region of prosperity” that’s been “complicated and overburdened with bureaucracy.” Continue Reading →

Access to Ring of Fire top priority for Noront; work continues on assessing Sault and Timmins – by Elaine Della-Mattia (Sault Star/Sudbury Star – January 24, 2019)

January 24, 2019 in Canadian Regional Media and Web Publications, Chromium/Platinum Group Metals, Nickel, Ontario Mining, Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

https://www.thesudburystar.com/

Without a road, Noront Resources cannot access the minerals found in the Ring of Fire. And that means moving forward too quickly on a processing facility is also not necessary.

So, the silence surrounding any decision by Noront Resources as to whether Sault Ste. Marie or Timmins will be the eventual host of a ferrochrome processing facility is nothing to panic about.

Mayor Christian Provenzano says he, along with Tom Vair, the city’s deputy CEO of community development and enterprise and EDC’s Dan Hollingsworth, met with Noront Resources officials in Toronto last Friday to get an update and offer any assistance. Continue Reading →

Ford clears the way for mine development, minister tells Sudbury audience – by Jim Moodie (Sudbury Star – January 24, 2019)

January 24, 2019 in Aboriginal and Inuit Mining and Oil/Gas, Canadian Regional Media and Web Publications, Chromium/Platinum Group Metals, Nickel, Ontario Mining, Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

https://www.thesudburystar.com/

Mining projects in the region will now go forward with fewer hurdles and costs, a provincial cabinet minister assured participants of a resource development conference Wednesday.

“I want the industries in Ontario to know that they have an ally and a partner in this government,” said Greg Rickford, MPP for Kenora-Rainy River and minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, as well as minister of Indigenous Affairs. “That we’re committed to supporting and protecting and launching mining projects across Ontario.”

That includes expediting development in the Ring of Fire, which Rickford said is long-overdue. “In southern Ontario there are folks who still think there are active mine sites up there,” he said. “But despite the decade of talk and more than $20 million invested in this region, there are still disappointingly no shovels in the ground.” Continue Reading →