Red - Why we cannot use ECS/ First Cobalt in CobaltYou asked a little while ago why we cannot and hopefully this picture will explain why.
https://i.ibb.co/FYHLRd0/IMG-20220604-131203561.jpg
See, the white line that goes through Hearst> Cobalt > North Bay is the only rail line going to Cobalt (green is highway 11). Ontop of that, they decomissioned their whole rail line in Cobalt, you just pass right pass it now). The reason that Vale can use ECS is because they are going to ship it via truck to Cobalt by following transcanada> 575 > 11. It is about a 2 hour drive. Potentially they might even rail ship it from Suds to North Bay and up to Cobalt however they would need to rebuild the lines and make some new ones due to age.
For FT to use ECS, you would need to negotiate with Gogama/ Matagami and Temagami First Nations to connect to the blue line OR with Nippissing and Whanapati (sorry spelling) First nations to send rail to Sudbury connection. Vale would probably interested in that. While Gogama and Matagami are willing to negotiate that kind of thing (considering the new Gold mine just opened off their only way into their reserve), it would probably take decades to build due to the pristinely untouched landscape there.
Either way, it doesn't make much logical sense to ship currently to ECS. Maybe if more railways are built, which isn't unheard of but unlikely if more mines are not built in the general area rather then far away.
Hope that helps,
Forced