Noront Resources of Toronto has chosen the Algoma Steel site in Sault Ste. Marie for its ferrochrome production facility.
Four communities - Timmins, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, as well as the Sault - were considered beginning in February 2018. With the help of Hatch engineering firm, they were examined for their environmental and site suitability, capital costs, operating costs, and an assessment of community acceptance of the facility.
The environmental permitting process for the production facility will undoubtedly take several years and involve residents of Sault Ste. Marie and other stakeholders including environmental groups and First Nations.
Noront owns or has interests in several projects in Ontario's Ring of Fire, including Eagle's Nest nickel-copper-PGM, Blackbird chromite, Black Thor and Black Label chromite, Big Daddy chromite, McFaulds copper-zinc-silver, Butler zinc-copper-silver, and more. The new production facility would treat concentrates from the Blackbird property beginning in 2028.
The company's first priority is to finalize the plans and timeline for an all-season road to the Ring of Fire with government and community partners.
(This article first appeared in the Canadian Mining Journal)