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Sudbury Basin

Xstrata-Glencore merger prompts name change (CBC News Sudbury – August 6, 2013)

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

Sudbury’s Xstrata Nickel to become Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations

One of Sudbury’s major mining companies is going through another rebranding exercise. Xstrata Nickel operations in Sudbury — formerly known as Falconbridge Ltd. before it was bought by Xstrata in 2006— will now go by the name Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations, or Sudbury I-N-O.

The name change comes as a result of Xstrata’s merger with another Swiss mining company — Glencore. The vice president of Sudbury I-N-O said the takeover means more independence for local operations.

“The interesting thing about Glencore is that it really relies on its local management to develop the business opportunities, [and that’s reflected] in the naming nomenclature,” Marc Boissonneault said. The company’s short-term plans include revitalizing its Fraser Operations near Onaping and to work on a joint project with Vale.

Future rebranding will continue to take place for the next few months, Boissonneault added. “You’ll see our signs change in coming weeks, those are the more visible ones. Other things will just take weeks and, in some cases, maybe a couple of months.”

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NEWS RELEASE: KGHM International Enters Into Agreement With Vale, Becoming Sole Operator of the Victoria Project

2013-08-02

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwired – Aug. 2, 2013) –KGHM International Ltd., formerly Quadra FNX Mining Ltd. (the “Company” or “KGHM International”), is pleased to announce that an agreement between KGHM International and Vale Canada Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vale S.A. (“Vale”), the global mining company, has been reached regarding the development of the Victoria project as well as the ore off-take to Vale’s processing facilities in Sudbury, Canada.

The Victoria project, located in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, is a great discovery and world-class project in the Sudbury Basin. The deposit containing ore rich in copper, nickel and precious metals will be extracted as an underground mine.

Under the new arrangement with Vale, KGHM International will build and operate Victoria as the sole owner of the project and Vale will receive a royalty and off-take on all future production from the project.

KGHM International and Vale also re-negotiated the off-take arrangement for all of KGHM International’s production from its mines in the Sudbury Basin in Ontario, Canada. Vale will purchase polymetallic ore from KGHM International and process it at Vale’s Clarabelle mill in Sudbury. The contract is valid for the full life of all KGHM International’s Sudbury mines, including future production from Victoria.

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De Beers’ Victor Diamond Mine court U.S. billionaire – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – July 26, 2013)

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

Billionaire businessman Warren Buffett has a standing invitation to visit a diamond mine in Northern Ontario. Buffett, 82, has been asked to join a junket in September, in which Crossworks Manufacturing will fly possible investors and diamond buyers to De Beers’ Victor Diamond Mine.

Victor is the first Canadian diamond mine in Ontario, and De Beers’ second Canadian diamond mine. It is located in the James Bay Lowlands, 90 kilometres west of Attawapiskat, so it’s safe to say Buffett has likely never visited that region.

Buffett purchased Omahabased Borsheims, one of the largest jewelers in the United States, in 1989. It’s part of his famous holding company, Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. Unfortunately, Buffett isn’t available for the trip.

But Uri Ariel, president and chief executive officer of Vancouver-based Crossworks, said the offer remains open to show Buffett around the mine that produces high-quality diamonds.

Greater Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk and representatives from Asian diamond companies, such as Chow Fai Took Jewellery Group, and Asian journalists have been invited along.

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A cut above [Sudbury diamond cutting] – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – July 25, 2013)

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

It pales in value to the 69.42-carat diamond Richard Burton famously gave to Elizabeth Taylor in the 1960s. But a 35-carat diamond mined in the James Bay Lowlands, and being processed in Sudbury, is setting a record for the largest diamond to be mined, cut and polished in Canada.

The unassuming stone, which uncut is about the size of a small wad of gum, will soon reveal its magnificent sparkle and brilliance under the skilled and gentle touch of a trusted, experienced diamond-cutter.

Uri Ariel, president and chief executive officer of Vancouverbased Crossworks, said the stone comes close in size to the famous Taylor-Burton diamond. While the latter was of a higher calibre, Burton wouldn’t have “offended” Taylor by presenting her with this stone, Ariel told a small group in the boardroom at Crossworks’ downtown Sudbury plant.

The stone was mined three years ago at De Beers’ Victor Diamond Mine. Ariel put it aside until three or four months ago when he was confident his company could process it to its best advantage.

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Nickel price slide hurting local miners – by Heidi Ulrichsen (Sudbury Northern Life – July 11, 2013)

http://www.northernlife.ca/

Slowing Chinese economy partly to blame

While nickel prices are as low as they’ve been since the recession, the founding executive director of Laurentian University’s Goodman School of Mines said he expects mining to “chug along” in this area.

But Bruce Jago expects smaller operators with high production costs may close mines, while larger companies such as Xstrata Nickel or Vale will begin to curtail production. Nickel prices have been something of a rollercoaster ride in recent years.

They’re currently hovering at around $6.10 to $6.20 a pound. That’s down from $8 a pound just six months ago, and $12 a pound two years ago. In 2008, during the recession, nickel prices dipped to as low as $4 a pound, plummeting from historic highs of $24 a pound a year before.

Laurentian University economics professor David Robinson agrees with Jago larger mining companies won’t be as affected by the lower prices. With large, integrated operations, it’s difficult to close mines, because the smelter depends on the ore coming from the mines, he said. “That’s one of the reasons I worry a little less than I would,” Robinson said.

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2013 KGHM International Corporate Social Responsibility Report Introduction – by Derek C. White, President and Chief Executive Officer

To view the 2013 KGHM International Corporate Social Responsibility Report, click here: http://www.kghm.com/files/doc_downloads/WEB_KGHM%20CSR%202013%20English.pdf

KGHM International has grown to be a globally diverse mining company, with operations and projects in Canada, Chile, Greenland and the United States and is a growth vehicle for our parent company, KGHM Polska Miedź, S.A. Each of our operations is located within their own distinct communities, whether they are situated near a small town in the middle of the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile, or within a renowned world-class mining camp in Canada. We appreciate and recognize that each site is unique and do our best to be a good neighbour wherever we operate.

We believe in four very important values: Zero Harm, Results Driven, Success Through Teamwork, and Courageous. These
values not only guide how we behave at our operations, they provide the foundation for how we interact and communicate
with our surrounding communities. These values help to ensure that we are operating in a safe, socially accountable and
environmentally responsible manner.

Zero Harm is at the heart of our core values. We are committed to the health and safety of our employees and the communities in which we operate. Our Zero Harm commitment applies not only to our employees, but also to the environments in which we live, work and play. Through careful planning and practices we minimize the impact of our activities, from development to operation, to closure and rehabilitation.

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Mine Mill, First Nickel settle on 4-yr. deal – by Star Staff (Sudbury Star – July 10, 2013)

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

First Nickel Inc. and the union representing about 105 production and maintenance workers at the company’s Lockerby Mine have settled a new four-year contract.

Members of Mine Mill Local 598/CAW voted 94% Tuesday to accept a collective agreement, which their bargaining committee recommended they accept.

Mark Isto, vice-president of operations with First Nickel, said ratifying a four-year contract is an important milestone for the mine, which reached full production earlier this year.

“The operation faces considerable economic pressures from low nickel prices and we feel the agreement strikes a balance between the needs of both parties,” said Isto. Nickel has been selling for about $6.10 a pound.

Lockerby Mine manager Cliff Lafleur said negotiations with the union were “constructive and progressed well, leading to a fair deal for both sides.”

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He has one tough city to sell [Sudbury image] – by Stan Sudol (Globe and Mail – July 15, 1998)

The Globe and Mail is Canada’s national newspaper with the second largest broadsheet circulation in the country. It has enormous influence on Canada’s political and business elite.

Paul Brokenshire’s message to visitors: look beyond the image

Poor old Sudbury. Nowhere else in the country has been as much maligned. Polluting smokestacks, acid rain, nickel mines, labour unrest and a scarred landscape resembling the backside of the moon, are all indelible images branded into the Canadian psyche, whenever anyone mentions Sudbury. A public relations nightmare.

And yet the city with the bad rep has a convention and visitor’s department, whose mandate is to attract conventions sporting events, trade shows and special events.

According to Paul Brokenshire, its manager: “Absolutely, one of my major hurdles is overcoming the negative views that the national media routinely portray about Sudbury. My job has always been an uphill battle with this city’s negative image.”

He concludes that over the past 20 years, he has heard all the jokes and putdowns; but he soldiers on, while he and the city politicians politely laugh all the way to the bank. The convention and sporting events industry brought in about $38-million for the local community in 1996.

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Sudbury Dumped on the Slag Heap of History – Stan Sudol (Originally Published in the Sudbury Star – February 6 , 2004)

Nickel Tailings #34, Sudbury, Ontario – by Edward Burtynsky

Stan Sudol – “Sudbury Dumped on the Slag Heap of History” was an article I wrote back in February 6, 2004 about Sudbury’s failure at promoting this community in the critically important Toronto media market. It was recently sent out by Dick DeStefano, Director of the Sudbury Area Mining Supply and Service Association, to his extensive email list with a telling question as to whether much has changed on this issue over the past decade.

I have known Dick for many years and have considered him a great friend ever since his tremendous help with a policy document I wrote – Claiming Our Stake! Building a Sustainable Community – for the former Sudbury Mayor David Courtemanche in 2006, which outlined the community’s concerns about the impending loss of Sudbury’s two iconic Canadian miners to foreign ownership.

We have often discussed Sudbury’s negative image in the national media and how is affects the investment decisions of major corporations as well as the perceptions of provincial and federal politicians. Unfortunately,  the article is still very relevant today and most local politicians still fail to grasp the importance of promoting its many unique strengths and mining intelligence – as repeatedly highlighted by DeStefano – in a very competitive Canadian and international market for capital and investment.

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City of Greater Sudbury:State of the City Address – 2013 – by Mayor Marianne Matichuk (June 20, 2013)

(Check against Delivery)

For video presentation, go to … http://prezi.com/jppg_zap9kio/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

City of Opportunity

Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen and thank you for taking time from your busy schedules to attend this year’s State of the City Address. Bonjour … Aannii … C’est un honneur d’être ici aujourd’hui …

This is my third address and it is something I look forward to every year. Before I go any further, there are several people I want to thank and acknowledge.

First, the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce for not only hosting today’s event, but for your relentless efforts in advocating for business and increased prosperity in Greater Sudbury. I would like to thank today’s sponsors – The OLG, Eastlink, Porter Airlines and Vale … Events like these would not be possible without the support of our valued community sponsors.

I’d like to begin with two items that have come before City Council in recent weeks that really stand out for me …

First, our planning department tells us the population of Greater Sudbury is expected to grow in the coming 25 years … it’s just a matter of how much. In fact, during the next term of council, our population will likely return to its all-time high of 171,000 people, recorded in 1971.

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Sudbury mourns fallen workers – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star -June 21, 2013)

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

There is only one correct answer to the question of whether workers should fight for improved workplace safety or “just remember” those who were killed, injured or got sick on the job, says the president of Mine Mill Local 598/CAW.

As long as one worker in the world is killed every 15 seconds, the union representing four men who died in a rockburst at Falconbridge Mine in 1984 will do more than just honour those miners’ memories.

It will continue to call for workplace improvements in health and safety, Richard Paquin told about 150 people at the 29th annual Workers’ Memorial Day at the Caruso Club.

Paquin repeated what he has said at previous services, a fact that every year drives home how many people are hurt on the job. “More people have died at work than in war,” said Paquin.

That includes more than 1,125 people who died in a fire at a Bangladesh garment factory in April and the 12 construction workers killed on the job every year in New York City.

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Mayor touts mining, downtown – by Laura Stricker (Sudbury Star – June 21, 2013)

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

A water park and laser tag for Greater Sudbury? The mayor certainly hopes so. “I want a water park for this city. This is something I see as something we need to do,” Marianne Matichuk said, following her State of the City speech at the Radisson Hotel on Thursday.

“Laser tag, I think, is great. That’s not a hard one.” Her desire to bring the entertainment destinations to town came after spending time with two high school students earlier this year, winners of the Mayor for a Day contest.

“Both (girls) said they wanted more for teenagers to do in our community, such as a water park, laser tag and retail shopping.

“I agree wholeheartedly with them, and I am still working with a couple of groups to make these things happen. I was reminded of when I was a teenager in Sudbury and one of the most common complaints then, as now, was there’s nothing to do in Sudbury.”

In her half-hour speech, the third one of her mayoralty term, Matichuk talked at length about mining, the downtown and tourism.

Boasting of $6 billion in mining investment expected over the next five years and a number of mines reopening — including Victoria, Errington and Vermillion — the future of mining looks bright, she said.

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Locals take honours in mine rescue competition – by Staff (Sudbury Northern Life – June 11, 2013)

http://www.northernlife.ca/

Glencore Xstrata Nickel’s Sudbury Operations was the overall runner-up at the 63nd annual Ontario Mine Rescue Competition in Windsor June 6-7.

The Vale West Mines team also won the team special equipment award at the competition. The overall winners at the competition, Glencore Xstrata Copper, Kidd Operations, were presented with gold hard hats.

Seven competing teams from across Ontario, selected in district competitions, were evaluated on their firefighting skills, first aid response, use of emergency equipment and decision-making ability under stress in a simulated underground environment at the South Windsor Recreation Centre.

Mine rescue team members, the backbone of Ontario Mine Rescue, are volunteer mine workers trained by Mine Rescue Officer/Consultants to respond to all types of mine emergencies including fires, explosions and falls of ground.

During the exercise, the five-member teams had to extinguish two fires and restore ventilation to the mine by building a bulkhead and turning on a fan. They also had to bring two miners, isolated underground because of the fires, to the surface. One was suffering burns. These rescues were conducted “under oxygen” (using self-contained rebreathing apparatus).

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Vale shows its green side – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – June 8, 2013)

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

If Gina Jones’ garden grows as she hopes it will this summer, she could easily save hundreds of dollars on produce. The senior citizen planted tomato and cucumber plants Friday, offset with marigolds to keep bugs from eating their tender leaves, in her own raised bed in Vale’s community garden beside its Copper Cliff greenhouse.

Jones is most interested in how the radicchio seeds she planted will grow. Just that morning, she spent $4 at the grocery store to purchase a small ball of the bitter-tasting, purple leafy vegetable, also known as Italian chicory, that is an acquired taste for some.

“It hope it grows. I try,” said Jones. This is the second year Vale has offered the raised beds to Copper Cliff residents and the first year Jones, who lives a stone’s throw from the greenhouse, has joined in. “I love this place,” she said.

At age 90, Jones also loves the fact the beds, some of which are about three feet high, are easy to tend and don’t require her to bend over.

Lisa Lanteigne, Vale’s manager of the environment, soil and water, said the company started the community gardening program to engage the community and get residents thinking about “sustainably eating, eating locally.”

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Boot camp to promote mining in Ontario – by Ryen Veldhuis (Sudbury Star – June 6, 2013)

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

There is no better way to understand something than to experience it. For two days, 13 officers in Ontario’s mining industry will be immersed into manufacturing facilities and underground facilities as part of a mining ‘boot camp’ in Sudbury, MPP Rick Bartolucci announced Wednesday.

The senior economic officers from the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment will be experiencing the locations to support their work in promoting international sales and investment in Northern Ontario’s mining sector.

Bartolucci, who did not say when the camp will be held, said he felt it was important for those promoting the mining industry to be more familiar in the field with those first-hand experiences.

“This educational experience in Sudbury, Canada’s mining capital, will provide senior economic officers with a dynamic learning experience,” said Bartolucci in a release. “It certainly will expand their knowledge of our vibrant mining sector and support their efforts when marketing our mining supply and services sector in global markets.”

The goal is to educate senior economic officers in the geology of Ontario and its innovative northern products and services so they can more effectively promote them to potential worldwide clients.

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