Noront ferrochrome plant definitely not a sure thing, city clarifies
posted on
Oct 02, 2019 10:01AM
NI 43-101 Update (September 2012): 11.1 Mt @ 1.68% Ni, 0.87% Cu, 0.89 gpt Pt and 3.09 gpt Pd and 0.18 gpt Au (Proven & Probable Reserves) / 8.9 Mt @ 1.10% Ni, 1.14% Cu, 1.16 gpt Pt and 3.49 gpt Pd and 0.30 gpt Au (Inferred Resource)
JOINT NEWS RELEASE
THE CITY OF SAULT STE. MARIE
SAULT STE. MARIE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
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The City of Sault Ste. Marie and Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation (SSMEDC) would like to address some of the concerns and misinformation regarding the proposed ferrochrome production facility project (FPF) by Noront Resources Ltd. The City/SSMEDC are providing the public with this background information as a means of offering clarity.
The land and engineering agreements reached by Noront with Algoma Steel and Hatch Engineering that were announced to the public on Sept. 20, 2019 do not supersede community consultation, First Nation consultation or the environmental assessment processes. The agreements do not mean the facility will be built, and should not be interpreted as a final determination. In order for Noront to advance to the next phase of project development, they needed to reach a commercial agreement with Algoma Steel on the land and hire an engineering firm to assist with facility design.
Moving forward, it is important to recognize the following:
Noront has committed to a comprehensive, multi-year environmental assessment process along with community and First Nation consultation, and to utilizing best-inclass technologies and environmental practices. Noront will be hosting an introductory public session on Oct. 23, 2019 where anyone with an interest in learning more about the project can attend the session and hear directly from the company. This meeting will be followed by many more public meetings over the next five years with more detailed information being provided to the public as it becomes available.
The project team that developed the community’s submission was comprised of representation from the City and SSMEDC, along with support provided by sector experts. The submission process has been open and transparent since it began, and the next phase of project development will continue to be open and transparent.
The FPF is the second major project proposed for the Ring of Fire development. Prior to any mining activity of chromite ore that would serve the FPF, the steps include the completion of the environmental assessment for the road to the Ring of Fire, construction of the road, completion of the environmental assessment for the Eagle’s Nest Nickel mine (first project of the Ring of Fire), completion of the construction of the Eagle’s Nest mine and the mine becoming operational.
Timeline:
Fall 2016
May 2017
November 2017
November 2017 - February 2018
January 2018
July 2018
May 2019
September 2019
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