Initially, the company commissioned one of its subsidiaries, Canada Chrome Corp, to develop a heavy-duty rail system to transport the ore to refineries located hundreds of kilometers away.
We have been asked to build a system like the ones we see in the Sudbury area,
says the director of Canada Chrome Corp, Tony Marquis.
The study carried out by engineers at Rail Veyor technologies has, however, shown that a light rail system would be a better solution.
It's a completely different idea, but it still meets our criteria
, explains Marquis.
“ It's affordable, less invasive for the environment, and flexible. "
The light rail system would be deposited on the surface of the rocks. Unlike the heavy rail system considered until now, the construction of the railway would not disturb the geology of the region.
The company also considers this system to be the most financially advantageous.
According to his calculations, transportation by truck costs $ 0.37 per ton, per kilometer, while transportation by heavy rail or light rail costs $ 0.03 or $ 0.01, respectively.
The transportation system is designed to transport 10 million tonnes of chromite annually over a distance of 338 kilometers and will cost over $ 700 million to build.
Ready for the next step
The next step is to obtain the authorizations of the First Nations to whom the territories belong.
The indigenous communities concerned have received our proposal, but have not yet commented
, specifies the director of Canada Chrome Corp.
The development of the Ring of Fire divides the First Nations of the region. Some of them welcome investments and the development of a transportation system that will link them to the rest of the province.
Other communities insist that they were not adequately consulted and demand to cease all activity in the region until an environmental impact study is carried out by an indigenous group.
Electricity for five remote Indigenous communities
One thing is certain, the arrival of a light transport system would change the daily life of residents of the region.
Canada Chrome Corp is already planning to extend the electricity network to supply its future mine and its light rail system project.
The network could therefore eventually supply five isolated First Nations in the region: Marten Falls, Webequie, Eabametoong, Neskantaga and Nibinamik.
“ We need to build this transportation corridor in partnership with aboriginal communities. "
Ontario is also working to build transportation infrastructure in the region. However, three aboriginal communities actively oppose the Northern Link road project .
An indigenous trust fund, Gitchiziibii, has been set up to reap a percentage of the profits from the eventual transport infrastructure.
To raise the capital necessary to finance and accelerate the construction of a light rail system, KWG Resources also intends to issue bonds.