Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery – Page 109

Which Way to Ring of Fire? As Cliffs stands down, Noront and KWG propose alternate transport routes – by Stockhouse.com (June 14, 2013)

June 17, 2013

http://www.stockhouse.com/

Which Way to Ring of Fire? As Cliffs stands down, Noront and KWG propose alternate transport routes

It’s a suspension, not a cancellation. Yet the June 12 announcement from Cliffs Natural Resources dumped cold water all over Ontario’s Ring of Fire. By putting the region’s largest project on hold, the company has also shelved plans for an all-weather road to the south, a vital link some other companies were counting on to develop the McFaulds Lake area about 540 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay. But Noront Resources [V.NOT] quickly responded that its own projects are “still good to go” thanks to a proposed east-west road. Not to be outdone, KWG Resources [V.KWG] pursues the feasibility of north-south rail.

Seemingly a Plan B, Noront’s east-west corridor was actually the company’s first idea. It would link the Eagle’s Nest project to Highway 808, roughly 230 kilometres southwest. But in May 2012, the Ontario government conditionally agreed to help finance the north-south route, part of Cliffs’ $3.3-billion proposal to build the Black Thor mine with road access to a new processing facility near Sudbury. On that basis, Noront used the north-south route in the base case for the September 2012 Eagle’s Nest feasibility study. Noront retained the east-west route as back-up.

Prudently, it now seems. Explaining the suspension of what would have been North America’s first major chromite mine, Cliffs’ senior vice-president of global ferroalloys Bill Boor said, “Certain critical elements of the project’s future are not solely within our control and require the active support and participation by other interested parties such as government agencies and impacted first nation communities.”

Cliffs puts Ring of Fire project on hold – by Shawn Bell (Wawatay News – June 13, 2013)

June 17, 2013

http://wawataynews.ca/

Citing a list of holdups with its proposed Ring of Fire chromite project, Cliffs Natural Resources announced on June 12 it has suspended its environmental assessment (EA) for the $3.3 billion mine project.

Bill Boor, Cliffs senior vice president, told Wawatay News that the uncertainty over the federal EA process – given Matawa First Nations’ ongoing legal case calling for a Joint Review Panel assessment – played a significant role in Cliffs decision to halt the project.

“Cliffs wants to work with First Nations on how we’ll cooperatively make sure we have an assessment that works for all of us, so we can assess this project in the best possible way,” Boor said. “We haven’t reached an agreement on that, and one of the issues is the judicial review.”

Boor emphasized that the uncertainty over the federal EA process was only one reason Cliffs decided to temporarily suspend work on the project. He noted that Ontario has still not approved Cliffs’ terms of reference for the provincial EA, and that a number of agreements with the provincial government remain unfinished.

Cliffs’ has also not been granted access to land it requires for an all-weather road to the mine site, another issue that has stalled the project. A land dispute between Cliffs and KWG Resources is currently awaiting ruling from Ontario’s mining commissioner.

Cliffs should stop pointing fingers, check its corporate ego before resuming work on Ring of Fire – by Ramsey Hart (MiningWatch Canada – June 14, 2013)

June 14, 2013

http://www.miningwatch.ca/

On Wednesday, US mining company Cliffs Natural Resources announced that it was ceasing work on the environmental assessment process for its high profile chromite project in the area of northern Ontario dubbed the “Ring of Fire”.

Cliffs’ announcement poutedly pointed the finger at the province for not approving the terms of reference the company drafted for its environmental assessment and for not coming to unspecified agreements “critical to the projects economic viability”, i.e. hydro and infrastructure subsidies. The blame was shared with First Nations who are pursuing a legal challenge to the project’s federal environmental assessment and the provincial Mining Land Commissioner for not issuing a decision over a land rights dispute with fellow would-be Ring of Fire mining company KWG.

While the announcement got a fair bit of press including coverage by the Globe and Mail, Financial Post, Star, CBC and Sudbury Star none of the news reports that I’ve seen pointed to Cliffs’ own role in creating these delays.

Back when the project was entering into the environmental review process, Cliffs doggedly refused to support the reasonable and routine call (for a project of this size and complexity) of First Nations and NGOs (MiningWatch included) for a joint review panel assessment process.

Have to get Ring of Fire right: Wynne – by Carl Clutchey (Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal – June 14, 2013)

June 14, 2013

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

While critics accused her government of “dropping the ball,” Premier Kathleen Wynne said Thursday she wasn’t rattled by this week’s announcement that Cliffs Natural Resources will stop working on its environmental assessment for its big Ring of Fire project.

In a conference call with Northern media outlets, Wynne dismissed a suggestion that Cliffs is upping the pressure on the province to get its chromite mine approved in a more timely manner.

“I’m not seeing it that way,” she said. “I’m seeing it as the natural course of things.” On Wednesday, Cliffs ferroalloys vice-president Bill Boor said the company is temporarily halting its work on its environmental assessment process because, after two years, the parties involved still can’t agree on what the project’s terms of reference should be.

Boor also cited “unfinished agreements with the government of Ontario that are critical to the project’s economic viability.” Wynne said Boor’s announcement “doesn’t change our position to see development in the Ring of Fire.”

The Ring of Fire mining belt, about 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, is a “complex” file “and we have to get it right,” said Wynne.

NEWS RELEASE: NORONT ANNOUNCES RING OF FIRE STILL GOOD TO GO

November 3, 2015June 14, 2013

TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwired – June 12, 2013) – Noront Resources Ltd. (“Noront” or the “Company”) (TSX VENTURE:NOT) wishes to announce that its plans for the development of its deposits in the Ring of Fire have not changed in light of the announcement made by Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. to temporarily suspend their Environmental Assessment (EA) activities for its chromite project in the Ring of Fire. Noront has continuously developed alternative plans, including the use of an East-West corridor, if the planned North-South access route proposed by Cliffs did not materialize.

“In addition to supporting a North-South access route, Noront has always supported an East-West alternative approach for the development of the Ring of Fire that balances First Nations objectives, the environment and job growth. We’re confident this alternative will be attractive to each level of government, the local communities and the people who will benefit from this sensible approach to stimulating development in the Ring of Fire,” said Paul Parisotto, Noront’s Chairman and interim CEO. “We believe this offers a great opportunity for the private sector, First Nations and governments to work together to ensure the Ring of Fire can be developed in a responsible and timely way.”

The alternative route for an all-weather road to the Ring of Fire, which will include access for non-mine traffic from local communities, balances First Nation objectives, the environment and jobs in a responsible manner and will allow for the early development of the high grade nickel deposits in the Ring of Fire.

The proposed route, an East-West all-weather corridor, would build upon existing winter roads to minimize environmental impact and cost.

Province optimistic development will go ahead – by Laura Stricker (Sudbury Star – June 14, 2013)

June 14, 2013

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

Cliffs Natural Resources’ work in the Ring of Fire may have come to a screeching halt, but the minister of Northern Development and Mines said he’s determined to see the project through.

“I do remain very optimistic about this project,” Michael Gravelle, who’s also the MPP for Thunder Bay, said on the phone. “I think it needs to be understood … that this is a very transformational, large project, in a part of the province that’s never seen development before.

“It’s important that we get this process right. Clearly there are a number of parts that are crucial to this before we can move for ward, and one of them is environmental assessment.”

On Wednesday, Cliffs announced it was temporarily suspending the $3.3-billion project, which includes a smelter in Capreol, until the provincial government takes action on the file. Bill Boor, senior vice-president of global ferroalloys for Cliffs, said Wednesday the company has done as much as it can and now needs to wait for the government to make a move.

“I’m keen to continue to sit down with Cliffs to finalize the arrangements that we’ve been in discussion with the company on,” said Gravelle. “Because of the size of this project … there are going to be challenges along the way, but we are still very confident that the project can move forward.”

Let’s get on with it [Ring of Fire development] – Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal Editorial (June 14, 2013)

June 14, 2013

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

HAS it really been three years? Has the Ring of Fire mining development been formally pursued for that long? Perhaps the time seems shorter because so little has been done. The potential salvation of the withering Northern Ontario economy has been mostly on hold over a series of delays around the inability of decision makers to make decisions.

A development commonly likened to the mighty Alberta oilsands in terms of economic impact is stalled while those who stand to benefit most stand in its way. Senior governments that would reap enormous tax benefits to apply to large budget deficits, and First Nations with the potential to finally climb out of unskilled poverty, have been unable or unwilling to approve even the processes to advance formal proceedings into the methods by which further exploration will continue, let alone how mines will be built.

No wonder the Ring of Fire’s major player, Cliffs Natural Resources, has just announced a halt to its environmental assessment activities for a chromite mine in the James Bay lowlands known to be brimming with mineral potential.

Cliffs appears to be stymied as to how to proceed because it cannot get a decision from either the provincial or federal governments on which EA processes will be applied. Cliffs may have thought it had an agreement to pursue one process but concerns by First Nations, environmental groups and federal agencies that it was not stringent enough have raised the possibility of tougher requirements.

More delays in the Ring of Fire mining project – Minister Michael Gravelle and Mining Analyst Stan Sudol (CBC News Sudbury/Morning North – June 13, 2013)

June 13, 2013

Cliffs Natural Resources has put the brakes on environmental assessments around it chromite project in the Ring of Fire mineral deposit. We have reaction from the Minister of Northern Development and Mines and an industry analyst Stan Sudol. For Morning North Radio Interview click here: http://www.cbc.ca/video/news/audioplayer.html?clipid=2391133725

Sudbury smelter plans hinge on Cliffs’ stalled chromite project – CBC News Sudbury (June 13, 2013)

June 13, 2013

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

Cliffs Natural Resources VP says proposed smelter will be located in Sudbury, but issues need to be resolved first

The future of a ferrochrome smelter in Sudbury is in question after some grim news from Cliffs Natural Resources. The company announced Wednesday it is temporarily suspending the environmental assessment on its northwestern Ontario chromite project in the James Bay lowlands’ Ring of Fire.

Cliffs points to unfinished agreements with the province and unresolved land rights issues as two of the reasons for the delay. The vice president of Cliffs Natural Resources overseeing the project said he’s frustrated with the lack of progress on the chromite project, which directly affects plans for the smelter.

“When we get the momentum back we’ll be moving back again and the furnace will be located in Sudbury,” Bill Boor said.

“[But] none of that’s settled before we advance beyond these issues.”

Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk said she’s not surprised Cliffs’ environmental assessment has been put on hold, but said she’s not worried about the impact this may have on the local economy or jobs.

“There’s other plans in place, there are other mines that are opening, there’s a lot of activity,” she said. “It’s the cycle of mining, that’s what mining’s all about.”

Cliffs delays Ring of Fire project – by Sebastien Perth (Sudbury Star – June 13, 2013)

June 13, 2013

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

Its ambitious US$3.4-billion plan to open a mine in northwestern Ontario and a smelter in Sudbury by the middle of the decade is in tatters, Cliffs Chromite Ontario Inc. announced Wednesday.

The company is temporarily suspending its environmental assessment activities in the Ring of Fire. With the delay comes the loss of close to 1,000 new jobs, including 400 to 500 at a chromite smelter that was to be built near Capreol.

Cliffs Chromite Ontario — a subsidiary of Cleveland-based Cliffs Natural Resources — cited difficulty in resolving a number of issues with the provincial government for the delay.

Bill Boor, senior vice president of global ferroalloys for Cliffs, said the company has done as much as it can and it’s now up to the Ontario government to get the project going again.

“What we did this morning was acknowledge where we are in the process,” Boor said. “It’s a lot less a decision on the part of Cliffs than an acknowledgment that we’ve run out of things that we can do without resolutions of these items.” The Ring of Fire is a mineral-rich area located in the James Bay Lowlands of Northern Ontario that is now being extensively explored.

Chromite mine plans on hold – by Carl Clutchey (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal – June 13, 2013)

June 13, 2013

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

Though Cliffs Natural Resources spooked a lot of Ring of Fire watchers Wednesday with its surprise announcement to temporarily stop work on an environmental assessment for the project, the company emphasized that it’s not pulling out.

“That is the furthest from our minds,” Cliffs global ferroalloys vice–president Bill Boor said Wednesday from the company’s Cleveland headquarters. “The bottom line is that we still very much believe in the project, and strategically, it remains as important to the company as it ever has been.”

Boor said 2017 remains the target for the chromite mine to begin production 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay.
When a Sudbury smelter is factored in, the $3.3-billion project is slated to create about 1,200 direct jobs over a 30-year mine life.

Despite his assurances, some believed the project was in jeopardy Wednesday when Boor formally expressed the company’s frustration with the environmental assessment process.

He said the company has hit a roadblock on being able reach an agreement with the province about what the assessment’s terms of references should be.

Cliffs Natural Resources puts Ring of Fire project on hold, cites unresolved issues – by Peter Koven (June 13, 2013)

June 13, 2013

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

The message from Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. couldn’t be any clearer: until crucial issues involving Queen’s Park and First Nations groups are resolved, development of the Ring of Fire is not going anywhere.

The Cleveland-based miner halted all environmental assessment (EA) work on the mega-project on Wednesday, saying it cannot go any farther because of delays that are outside its control.

“It feels like the only thing we can do,” Bill Boor, Cliffs’ senior vice president of ferroalloys, said in an interview. “The company can only drive the project so far without other people keeping up with us.”

Cliffs wants to build the first of what could be many mines in the Ring of Fire, a vast resource in Ontario’s James Bay Lowlands that could hold as much as $50-billion of minerals. Both the provincial and federal governments have stressed that developing the region is a priority.

But Cliffs cited a number of unresolved issues that forced it to suspend environmental work. They include a delay in provincial approval for the EA process, an ongoing judicial challenge to the process by First Nations groups, unresolved land surface rights covering a proposed road to the project, and the lack of definitive agreements with the Ontario government.

U.S. miner suspends environmental assessment work in Ring of Fire — for now – by John Spears (Toronto Star – June 13, 2013)

June 13, 2013

The Toronto Star has the largest circulation in Canada. The paper has an enormous impact on federal and Ontario politics as well as shaping public opinion.

The giant Ring of Fire chromite mining venture in northwestern Ontario has bogged down, with one of the mine developers calling a halt to its environmental assessment.

Cliffs Natural Resources gave a laundry list of unresolved issues with both provincial and federal governments as the reason for suspending the work on the $3.3 billion project.

One mining industry insider said failure to nail down a long-term electricity price is one of the big stumbling blocks.
A smelter for the mine would be among the biggest users of electricity in the province. Cliffs has been planning a $1.85 billion processing facility in Capreol, near Sudbury.

Quebec and Manitoba, with abundant hydro-electric power, can both offer lower rates that Ontario for the smelter.
Another sticking point may be negotiating royalty payments to the province. Chromite is the ore used to produce chromium, a component used in stainless steel, and for plating items such as auto parts and appliances.

Bill Boor, senior vice president of Cliffs, said in an interview that project “is still a very important part of Cliffs’ strategy; that hasn’t changed.”

UPDATE 2-Cliffs chromite project halt dims Canada Ring of Fire hopes – by Allison Martell (Reuters U.S. – June 12, 2013)

June 12, 2013

http://www.reuters.com/

June 12 (Reuters) – Cliffs Natural Resources Inc said on Wednesday it is “temporarily suspending” work on its $3.3 billion chromite-mining project in northwestern Ontario, casting doubt on development hopes for the region’s mineral-rich Ring of Fire.

Cliffs blamed the delay on stalled talks with the Ontario provincial government and on other political and regulatory
problems. But it’s far from clear that the company will be able to revive the project, called Black Thor, given the low iron ore prices that have put its operations elsewhere under pressure. “It’s hard to see why Cliffs would undertake a project of this magnitude when its core business, the source of all of its cash flow, is withering,” said Morningstar analyst Daniel Rohr.

He said Cliffs would likely not have had the capital to go ahead with Black Thor even if infrastructure and regulatory issues had been resolved.

The Ring of Fire, about 1,500 km (1,000 miles) northwest of Toronto, is a large cluster of mineral deposits that Canadian political leaders say could bring economic development to northern Ontario much as the oil sands have to northern Alberta.

There are no rail lines, highways or reliable power sources in the region, and Cliffs’ plan for Black Thor includes a $600 million highway that could open the zone to smaller mining companies such as Noront Resources Ltd that are developing projects or have claims there.

Cliffs stops work on chromite project in Ring of Fire – by CBC News Thunder Bay (June 12, 2013)

June 12, 2013

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

Cliffs Natural Resources says it needs various issues resolved

Cliffs Natural Resources announced Wednesday it’s putting the brakes on environmental assessment work for it’s chromite project in the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario.

The company is citing delays with government environmental assessments, land surface rights issues and negotiations with the province as problems to advancing its work on the mine, which is located in the James Bay lowlands. Cliffs said it will resume activity when all parties are “collectively ready to make this project a reality.”

“While most aspects of the chromite project have advanced according to plan, temporarily suspending the environmental assessment work acknowledges that certain critical elements of the project’s future are not solely within our control and require the active support and participation by other interested parties such as government agencies and impacted First Nation communities,” said Bill Boor, senior vice president of global ferroalloys for Cliffs, in a press release.

“We remain excited about this project and its potential for Cliffs and northern Ontario. However, given the current unresolved issues, we cannot and will not unilaterally move the process forward and must manage our resources appropriately.”