Progress being made in Eagle's Nest mine in Ring of Fire
It was a packed house inside the Holiday Inn on Thursday as Ring of Fire Metals CEO Stephen Flewelling addressed the Sudbury crowd via Zoom.
"We've begun upgrading our feasibility work, our engineering work and a few Sudbury firms are already core parts of the team," Flewelling said.
He had to deliver his speech virtually after bad weather in southern Ontario made his travel plans out of Pearson Airport unfeasible.
Formerly Noront Resources, Ring of Fire Metals has pledged its Eagle's Nest Mine in the Ring of Fire would set a new global benchmark in sustainable mining.
While no timelines are set in stone yet, Flewelling said building the mine would take three years once the road to the region is built.
The project still faces some hurdles, but he told reporters they have every confidence in both levels of government that the work can be done expeditiously.
"We're going to be putting forward proposals and discussions with both the provincial and federal governments on how do we create a framework to get these assessments done in a timely and responsible way,” Flewelling said.
“Do we believe that can happen? Absolutely.”
And while he said Sault Ste. Marie remains in the running for their choice of a ferrochrome plant, their priority is in getting the Ring of Fire mine up and running.
"It's not our focus, as I described in the presentation, our focus is to develop the Eagle's Nest nickel, copper, PGM deposit," he said.
He said social license is a big part of their mandate and they've signed agreements recently with both the bands in Webequie and Marten Falls.
Among those in the audience was Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre, who recently met with the company's executives. He said there's opportunity here in the city for economic development.
"Every one of us will be able to benefit and that's the key here,” Lefebvre said.
“From the Sault to Timmins, to North Bay to Sudbury and Thunder Bay, as well, and that's what I'm focused on, surely for Sudbury and what's good for Sudbury will be good for northern Ontario.”
"Sudbury is well known for its wealth of knowledge and wealth of mining supplementary so I think Stephen Flewelling and the Ring of Fire team knows Sudbury would be a great asset to have on board," added the chair of the Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, Anthony Davis.
Once operational, it's anticipated the mine will produce 15,500 tonnes of nickel a year along with copper, palladium and platinum.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
RCMP uncovers plot to sell drones and equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Thieves use stolen forklift to rip cash machine out of U.K. bank
Police in the U.K. are searching for a group of suspects seen on video using a forklift to steal a cash machine from a bank.
'There was a lot of black smoke': Crane operator sounds alarm while trapped during highrise fire in Halifax
A tower crane operator alerted emergency crews after noticing a fire on a construction site in Halifax Tuesday morning.
Cherry blossoms blooming in Canada: Here's what to know
There is a swaying sea of colour in some cities across Canada, and it's a sure sign of spring: cherry blossoms are in bloom.