City poised to promote Sudbury to Cliffs Natural Resources

Council will focus on the city's competitive advantages as a global mining centre when it meets with Cliffs Natural Resources Sept. 26.

The meeting is meant to continue deliberations on why Greater Sudbury is the best place to locate the proposed ferrochrome production facility, according to a press release. The project is still in its preliminary stages.

Cliffs is one of the most significant mining and natural resources companies in North America, according to the press release. In 2010, the company acquired the largest-known chromite deposit in North America, located in northern Ontario. Earlier this year, Cliffs evaluated numerous locations and announced the Sudbury location, Moose Mountain, north of Capreol, as the benchmark site.

Over the past year, city officials have been meeting with decision-makers from all major companies involved in the Ring of Fire development, including the provincial government. A report has been drafted to show Cliffs the benefits in bringing this important project to the Greater Sudbury area.

“Cliffs is looking at places to establish its smelting operation,” Mayor Marianne Matichuk said in a press release. “To me, there is only one place; here in Greater Sudbury. If Cliffs decides to build in Ontario, we want Greater Sudbury to be the only choice for them.”

Greater Sudbury is committed to pursuing every available opportunity to demonstrate that it is the best location for processing ores mined in the Ring of Fire area, Matichuk said in the release.

City officials have sought advice from some of the top experts in the field and appreciate the strong support and co-operation received from the local mining industry, she added.

“We are aggressively marketing Sudbury as an economic engine and as the world’s expert in the mining and supply industry,” Scott Lund, chair of the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation, said in the press release. “Attracting Ring of Fire businesses, such as Cliffs, will allow us to become a more competitive, commercial and industrial rallying point in northeastern Ontario.”

Understanding that the final decision will be determined by Cliffs, the city will continue to liaise with Cliffs and be respectful of their decision-making process, Matichuk said in the release.

-Posted by Arron Pickard