This could be the delay for the City releaseGlencore has hit some major ore below there 10,000 feet deep mine, this will extend mine life and even though it shouldn't conflict with the start of Noront they need to discuss with Glencore who owns the mill site in Timmins...here from Daily Press as new mayor dictates...gltal
Despite those rather significant challenges, Pirie is “optimistic” about what 2019 will hold for Timmins.
“We have three very important announcements we will be waiting for,” he said.
“In no specific order, there is Noront. We know they will be making an announcement (on the location of their ferrochrome smelter) sometime in the new year. I do believe they have the advocate for the road and the province is working very, very diligently to make all things happen when it comes to Noront.
“We know we are in a very good position and we are cautiously optimistic on that proposal. It is a very, very good proposal that was put together with total community support.
While Glencore’s Kidd Mine is nearing the end of its life, Pirie is hopefully its demise might still be a little ways off.
“Glencore is working very diligently trying to extend the mine life of the Kidd deposit,” he said.
“They will have a new manager coming in at some point in the new year and we will be looking forward to getting updates, as they progress toward trying to extend the mine life.
“The mineralized zone is literally mantle-breaking. It is a classic hydrothermal vent. It is wide and the grades are good. The challenge is just associated with the technology of extracting that mineralized rock profitably.”
“That’s really what the game is there.”
If Timmins is selected as the location for Noront’s ferrochrome smelter, it would likely be housed at the Kidd Met Site, but an extension of the life of the Kidd Mine would not necessarily preclude that from happening.
“I think negotiations are taking place right now to see at what level they could co-exist,” Pirie said.
“I do know that even if the Noront announcement was made today, it would be at least 10 years before any type of construction would be started at that site.
“So, the mine would have to be extended by that amount, which would be a pretty significant ask, given the depth of the ore body right now and the amount of tonnes it would take to extend it that far.
“And, in fact, it might be longer for Noront. All in all, I think it would dovetail very nicely.”