Cliffs to consult Timmins residents about smelter

Cliffs Natural Resources will hold an open house in Timmins Monday to discuss a possible chromite smelter in the city.

The meeting is part of an environmental assessment that Cliffs has already conducted in Sudbury and Thunder Bay.

The company wants to process raw materials from the mineral rich area in the James Bay Lowlands, known as the Ring of Fire.

Timmins Mayor Tom Laughren said he isn't sure what will be discussed at the open house.

"You know Timmins is a mining community … to have a processing plant such as that in our community, I think, would be overall well received," he said.

He said he hasn't heard any concerns from people in Timmins about the potential smelter so far. The open house will take place between 4-8 pm at the McIntyre Arena.

According to a press release issued by the Timmins Economic Development Commission, this is an opportunity to learn more about the Cliffs project, and "to demonstrate that we are the community that deserves the Ferrochrome Processing Facility."

Cliffs recently initiated the Environmental Assessment process for the Cliffs Chromite Project. This proposed project involves a mine site and an ore processing facility, a ferrochrome production facility and an integrated transportation system that will be used to move equipment, materials and people to and from the mine site.