Republic of Mining

All ready for the new boom [Thunder Bay mining] – Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal Editorial (May 14, 2012)

May 14, 2012

The Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal is the daily newspaper of Northwestern Ontario.

WITH all the attention being given to the proposed Black Thor chromite mine there is a tendency to overlook the many other mining projects — existing and planned — throughout Northern Ontario. Cliffs Natural Resources’ project will surely be the biggest and the awarding of its processing plant to Sudbury set off a wave of discontent in competing communities here in the Northwest. In Thunder Bay, at least, it didn’t last long. One day after the dust settled on Cliffs’ decision, Thunder Bay and a group of partners launched an initiative to ensure they are ready to service, and take advantage of the many spinoffs from mining activity in the Ring of Fire and beyond.

The City of Thunder Bay is developing a Mining Readiness Strategy to place itself and its partners at the centre of consideration for one of Ontario’s largest economic development opportunities.

Together with Fort William and other First Nations, its own economic development corporation, the province and others in the region, Thunder Bay wants to make sure all mining interests are aware of the potential to include these entities in their plans and count on their ability to partner in the North’s new mining boom.

Good reason for optimism around Ring of Fire progress – Point of View – by Brian MacLeod (Sudbury Star – May 12, 2012)

May 12, 2012

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper and Brian MacLeod is the managing editor. brian.macleod@sunmedia.ca

When a mining project moves from pre-feasibility to the feasibility stage, it’s often done through a news release and follow-up interviews with the press. It’s a significant step, but not usually the whopper we saw this week when U.S. firm Cliffs Natural Resources made its announcement.

What made this one different is the size — $3.3 billion all told — and the announced location of a proposed $1.8-billion ferrochrome smelter in Sudbury to process material from the Ring of Fire chromite deposit in northwestern Ontario.

As well, Cliffs officials indicated they had come to an understanding with the province on the cost of power. And so we saw press conferences in Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Cleveland on Wednesday. While people in Greater Sudbury were happy, the Liberals took a beating elsewhere.

We have Sudbury’s back on Cliffs: Ministry – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – May 12, 2012)

May 12, 2012

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

Ontario’s air standards are among the most stringent in the world, so the Ministry of the Environment will have its eye on Cliffs Natural Resources as it develops its $3.3-billion Ring of Fire project.

That project includes a $1.8- billion ferrochrome processing plant to be built near Capreol. Mining projects such as Cliffs’ are subject to extensive environmental assessments both federally and provincially, says Environment ministry spokeswoman Kate Jordan.

Cliffs will have to receive “numerous” provincial approvals before moving forward with the project. Those environmental assessments will include identifying and predicting how the company can mitigate the environmental effects of these projects.

Cliffs will have to demonstrate that its smelter will meet all provincial minimum applicable standards, specifically related to chromium, said Jordan. The province has different standards for different types of chromium.

[Yukon] Gold rush – by Jason Unrau (National Post – May 12, 2012)

May 12, 2012

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

TheYukon mining boom shows no signs of slowing,but environmentalists fear forthe safety of the Peel watershed

At the turn of the 19th century it played host to the famed Klondike Gold Rush that drew thousands to the rugged wilderness in search of riches, but now the Yukon entertains a newer, more modern kind of mining rush.

For the past two years, mineral exploration here has been through the roof, nearly half-a-billion dollars spent searching for the next motherlode of gold, silver, copper, zinc, molybdenum or tungsten and nearly 200,000 claims staked.

“From July [2011] I flew 10 months worth of hard staking and we probably singlehandedly staked 25 to 30,000 claims,” said Ben Drury, a pilot with Horizon Helicopters, one of the many charter services in the Yukon that benefited from the staking craze.

The end of thought? [Jeff Rubin: The End of Growth] – by Philip Cross (National Post – May 11, 2012)

May 12, 2012

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

Philip Cross is the former chief economic analyst at Statistics Canada.

Jeff Rubin forgets that knowledge, not cheap oil, brings growth

Jeff Rubin is the kind of guy I want to like. He made a remark in 2005 about sheiks and mullahs controlling oil supplies that provoked his handlers at CIBC, where he was chief economist for 20 years, to send him on a course to heighten his sensitivity and political correctness. If my former employers at Statistics Canada had been nearly as skittish, I could have spent much of my 36 years there taking courses. Anyway, the course apparently had its desired effect on Rubin, as his new book on The End of Growth is as politically correct as it gets when it comes to decrying our addiction to autos and suburbs, our indifference to climate change, and ultimately our grubby materialism.

This book is an extension of his previous work, in which he predicted high oil prices were here to stay, and would fundamentally alter how and where we live and work. In this book, he extends this thesis to claim that permanently high oil prices will permanently cripple economic growth. The book notes that this may not be all bad, since the end of growth would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, although I think for most people that would not take the sting out of being unemployed.

[Northern Ontario Alienation] Forget flying flag half mast … it’s time to light a match – by Wayne Snider (Timmins Daily Press – May 11, 2012)

May 12, 2012

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

At a time provincial Liberal cabinet ministers are strutting around the south — their chests all puffed out with pride — bragging about all the good they are doing for Northern Ontario, mayors from across the region are doing their damnedest to let everyone know the real reason behind such upper body over-inflation.

The government is full of hot air.

One day after Ohio-based Cliffs Resources announced it will invest $1.8 billion to build a chromite processing facility in Capreol — creating hundreds of direct jobs in the process — municipal leaders were calling the government out on Northern issues.

Kapuskasing Mayor Al Spacek, president of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM), and Timmins Mayor Tom Laughren, chairman of the Northeastern Ontario Municipal Association (NEOMA), were front and centre at meetings in North Bay this week with other Northern political and business leaders. They were hell bent on spreading the word.

First Nation leaders threaten to pull support for Ring of Fire – by Shawn Bell (Wawatay News – May 11, 2012)

May 12, 2012

http://www.wawataynews.ca/

First Nation leaders are threatening to pull support for mining in the Ring of Fire, after Cliffs Resources’ announced it plans to locate its chromite processing plant in Sudbury.

Cliffs announced on May 9 that the mining company will go ahead with the $3.3 billion Ring of Fire project, which includes the chromite mine east of Webequie, a transportation route running south from the mine site to connect to highway 17 near Aroland, and a ferrochrome processing plant in Sudbury.

The decision goes against the wishes of First Nations and municipal leaders in northwestern Ontario, who wanted to see the processing plant located in Greenstone.

“It’s obvious the province and Cliffs haven’t been listening to First Nations, and what their concerns and their aspirations are,” said Nishnawbe Aski Nation Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose. “Today is a classic example of development going ahead without adequate consultation, input and consent from our First Nations.”

One project, one review — one controversy – by Scott Simpson (Vancouver Sun – May 11, 2012)

May 11, 2012

http://www.vancouversun.com/index.html

Federal commitment to streamline the environmental review process gets mixed reviews

Federal commitments to streamline environmental reviews of major resource projects sit well with the mining industry, but not so well with environmentalists, scientists and many other notable Canadians.

Miners have been a leading voice in calling on the Harper Conservatives to amend the review process to remove what they believe are needless delays in getting projects vetted by federal regulators.

They want duplication of paperwork eliminated, and they want Ottawa to commit its bureaucracy to fixed time limits for reviewing projects and rendering a verdict.

That could mean faster turnaround times on projects that typically take a decade to develop from early drilling investigations to operating mines.

NEWS RELEASE: B.C.’s responsible resource growth to help Canada maintain its reign as a global mining powerhouse

May 11, 2012

Kamloops region is particularly poised for growth from new projects and expansions

KAMLOOPS, BC, May 10, 2012 /CNW/ – British Columbia’s robust and responsible resource sector will help propel the $140 billion in new mining investment expected across Canada over the next five years, says the Mining Association of Canada (MAC). MAC estimates that B.C. has the potential to see more than $30 billion in investment from 30 projects over the next 10 years.

“As the third-largest mining jurisdiction in the country, B.C. will be a major contributor to the overall strength of the mining industry, which we expect to remain steady for years to come. That will bring numerous economic benefits and opportunities to British Columbians, while at the same time, help Canada maintain its status as a global mining superpower,” Pierre Gratton, MAC President and CEO, said during a speech in Kamloops on Thursday to celebrate Mining Week in the B.C.-interior city.

The City of Kamloops declared May 6-12 Mining Week alongside other celebrations taking place across the province in May to recognize the importance of the industry to the B.C. economy.

The mineral exploration, development and mining industry generated $8.9 billion in economic activity in B.C. in 2010, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The industry generated more than 21,000 direct jobs, 8,200 of which were at operating mines across the province and paid average salaries of more than $100,000 annually.

Cliffs may export 40% of chromite from Ontario Ring of Fire for processing – by Keith Leslie, The Canadian Press (Canadian Business Magazine – May 10, 2012)

May 11, 2012

Founded in 1928, Canadian Business is the longest-publishing business magazine in Canada.

TORONTO – Ontario will likely give Cliffs Natural Resources an exemption from the Mining Act to process a large amount of the chromite it takes out of the Ring of Fire offshore, Premier Dalton McGuinty suggested Thursday.

The New Democrats want as much of the ore as possible smelted and refined in Ontario, and say more processing facilities should be built to make sure the jobs stay in the province as well.

Cliffs announced Wednesday it plans to invest $3.3 billion to develop a chromite mine in the far north, a transportation corridor and a $1.8-billion smelter near Sudbury.

In the legislature, the NDP released testimony from Cliffs’ vice-president Bill Boor before a Commons committee in February showing the company plans to export up to 40 per cent of the chromite offshore for processing into a key ingredient of stainless steel.

Mining is reshaping Thunder Bay’s economy – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – May 2012)

May 11, 2012

Established in 1980, Northern Ontario Business provides Canadians and international investors with relevant, current and insightful editorial content and business news information about Ontario’s vibrant and resource-rich North. Ian Ross is the editor of Northern Ontario Business ianross@nob.on.ca.

Primed for the boom

When northwestern Ontario’s forest industry began taking a dive during the last decade, Grant Brodeur could see the writing on the wall. The CEO of Secure Store is now among more than 100 companies in the Thunder Bay area that have changed gears, restocked their parts rooms, and transitioned from catering exclusively to forestry over to the mining sector.

His company provides modular housing and logistical support for exploration and mining camp sites, serving clients such as Goldcorp-Musselwhite, Magma Metals and Osisko. Brodeur was displaying his services at the Northwestern Ontario Mines and Minerals Symposium in Thunder Bay in early April.

“Those skills are transferrable,” said Brodeur, who began working in Secure Store’s predecessor company, Broland Reforestation, as a tree planter. “Many of us have worked in fire suppression so we know emergency logistics and can set up in the middle of nowhere.”

Ring of Fire opportunities still available, business and political leaders say – by Jamie Smith (tbnewswatch.com – May 10, 2012)

May 11, 2012

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/

Regional business and political leaders continue to be disappointed by Cliffs’ decision to setup a processor in Sudbury, but say they look forward to other opportunities area mining could bring.

Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce president Harold Wilson said he shared a lot of the same concerns that First Nation and municipal leaders had Wednesday when Cliffs announced it would build a $1.8 billion ferrochrome processor near Sudbury.

He was also disappointed that the province made no announcements to coincide with the company’s $3.3 billion announcement that would also include an all-weather road north of Nakina.

“Show us where that’s going to be. How is that going to link up to First Nations communities that can greatly benefit from that? How much are they (Ontario) investing into it and how can we turn that into other economic opportunities?” Wilson said.

[Northern Ontario] Chromite mine talks could ‘devolve into conflict’ – by CBC Radio Thunder Bay (CBC.ca – May 10, 2012)

May 11, 2012

http://www.cbc.ca/thunderbay/

First Nations involvment in Ring of Fire project will come after province and First Nations talk, Kathleen Wynne says

Ontario’s Minister of Aboriginal Affairs is asking First Nations near the Ring of Fire to be patient. First Nations leaders are upset Cliffs is locating its chromite smelter — and 450 jobs — in Sudbury, rather than in northwestern Ontario.

Kathleen Wynne said the mining project will benefit aboriginal communities, but she doesn’t have the details.

“Those have not been finalized,” she said. “We were not announcing those today because we couldn’t. There’s no way we could announce those today because we haven’t had the conversation with you.”

Wynne said she hopes First Nations and the province can sit down and have meaningful discussions, and not end up with a conflict.

Time for [First Nation Ring of Fire] action? – by Jamie Smith (tbnewswatch.com – May 10, 2012)

May 11, 2012

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/

Raymond Ferris thinks it might soon be time for action over the Ring of Fire. As Matawa’s Ring of Fire co-ordinator, Ferris said he was disappointed but not surprised by Cliffs Natural Resources’ decision to build a $1.8 billion ferrochrome processor near Sudbury instead of somewhere in Northwestern Ontario.

It’s the latest example of governments and industry moving ahead with initiatives without taking any First Nations recommendations into consideration he said.

“Whether the smelter was a good thing or not is something that we wanted to conduct as a study for ourselves so that our membership can be well informed then they can make a decision on their own,” Ferris said Thursday afternoon. “We never had that opportunity.”

Ferris said a smelter in the region could have had countless economic spinoffs for First Nations communities if they were tied to the grid. Communities around Lake Nipigon have everything from solar to wind projects that are just waiting to be tied to the hydro grid, something that could have happened with the arrival of the processor.

Cliffs confident in its decision – by Sudbury Northern Life Staff (Sudbury Northern Life – May 10, 2012)

May 11, 2012

This article came from Northern Life, Sudbury’s biweekly newspaper.

Representatives visit Sudbury

There were a lot of complicated factors, but Cliffs Natural Resources is confident that Sudbury is the right spot to build its ferrochrome smelter, the company’s president and CEO said.

Hot on the heels of its announcement on May 9, Cliffs representatives, including Joseph Carrabba, braved a thunderstorm en route from Toronto to Sudbury to pay a visit to the Nickel Capital.

It was a whirlwind tour, and while Cliffs representatives weren’t in town for very long, they “felt it most appropriate and respectful to be in the community and introduce ourselves to the mayor and everyone else who has been so helpful in the process just so people will be able to put a face to the name,” Carrabba said.

Cliffs received approval May 8 from its board to move into the feasibility stage. This move will see the eventual construction of a $1.8-billion ferrochrome processing plant north of Capreol, as well further work on the development of Cliffs’ Black Thor chromite deposit, an open-pit operation 540 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay that will eventually lead into an underground operation once it becomes necessary to extract the ore from greater depths.