According to Cliffs, their current plan is to export 1 million tons of ore, + 600,000 tons of ferrochrome. I have forgotten the amount of ore to produce a ton of ferrochrome, but it has to be something like 2 to 1 or, with enriched ore, perhaps 6 to 10 (?) so the actual figure for ore mined has to be something like at least 2 million tons annually.

Quite a while ago, I suggested that 2 separate operations might be the way to get maximum returns in the initial few years. With these anticipated figures, it seems Cliffs could be heading in that direction.

We did some back-of-the-envelope figures a while ago, and I gathered an impression that most thought a road would be inadequate for a traffic load of 2 million tons/yr, so, realising these figures are for several years after initial production begins, a rail line is still the most economic, though might not be built until traffic becomes too great for a road.

If this same road has to carry traffic from NOTs somewhat smaller operation, the need for rail will come quicker.

Just thoughts, and all my personal opinions.