The Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) announced it recently hosted a “representative” from Cliffs Natural Resources as the Ohio miner scopes for sites for a ferrochrome processing facility.

In a July 20 release, TEDC chairman Dave McGirr said they've put forward a “detailed background document” outlining possible sites and local labour force skills in presenting their case why Timmins is the “logical choice for Cliffs' Ferrochrome facility.”

Timmins Mayor Tom Laughren said in a statement that the community leaders have been “working aggressively behind the scenes to highlight what Timmins can offer Cliffs since December 2009.”

Christy Marining, CEO of the TEDC, said in their meeting, local mining and community leaders were “able to elaborate that we are a community that knows how to deliver shareholder value while being safe, productive and profitable.”

Last winter, Cliffs identified Sudbury as, technically, the best place in Northern Ontario to process ore from its Black Thor chromite in the Ring of Fire.

But higher electricity prices in Ontario, compared to Manitoba and Quebec, has the company looking for sites outside of the province.

Cliffs expects to wrap up its pre-feasibility study on Black Thor by September before launching into a full feasibility report