Timmins to showcase Kidd Metallurgical Site in bid for ferrochrome smelter

The Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) says the city will showcase the Kidd Metallurgical Site in its bid for the Noront ferrochrome smelter, and plans to recruit experts to detail the benefits and attributes of the site.

Timmins is competing with Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay for the facility, which would process chromite deposits from the Ring of Fire.

• Noront Resources to make decision on Ring of Fire smelter by end of year

• Northern Ontario cities try to 'sell' themselves as best place to put Ring of Fire smelter

Hundreds of people were laid off when the smelter at the Kidd Metallurgical Site was shut down in 2010. The smelter and some of the buildings have since been taken down, but TEDC CEO Christy Marinig says the site is still operational while the Kidd Mine remains open.

Marinig says the mine is slated for closure by 2022, which makes the site the perfect place for the new smelter.

"The timing works perfect to showcase that site, and repurpose an existing metallurgical site in the province of Ontario," says Marinig.

The TEDC is also planning on bolstering support in the community, by gathering letters of support from industry players and businesses through the Timmins Chamber.

Marinig says the goal of these initiatives is to showcase how important the ferrochrome smelter would be for Timmins.

"One of the things we pride ourselves on is that Timmins is a mining and metallurgical community, and that we have the regulatory environment that paves the way...for mining and metallurgy."

Noront is set to make a decision on the location of the smelter by the end of the year.