Timmins making pitch for Noront plant

Map of the Ring of Fire

TIMMINS - When it was recently revealed that Timmins was back on the “shortlist” as the site of a possible refinery for the Ring of Fire nickel and chromite deposit, city officials wasting no time getting to work on a new plan.

It was just last week that Noront Resources CEO Alan Coutts revealed that Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury and Timmins were all being considered for the location of a new smelter. Noront is the mining company with the largest land holdings in the huge mineral prospect located some 600 kilometres northwest of Timmins at McFaulds Lake.

On Thursday, Timmins Mayor Steve Black confirmed that the city is preparing a proposal.

“We have been having discussions. This is something that obviously all of Northern Ontario has been watching and following very closely and every time we go to one of these mining events where we have the opportunity to meet Mr. Coutts and his team, we continue to emphasize that Timmins is the place where this facility should be,” Black told The Daily Press on Thursday.

“Obviously all the places they’re looking at have pros and cons and we will continue to make our best case to try and help guide that facility to Timmins if possible.”

“We are working on a plan and a proposal for the pitch to the Noront team which will be our final proposal they get to review as they whittle down their short list.

“Timmins was still on that list so obviously we are still in discussions with them and look forward to having the Noront team in Timmins so that we can showcase some of the great area around here and a community that is fully supportive of mining, even in the downtown area.”