ONTARIO – Vale celebrated what its calls its first new mine near Sudbury in over 40 years – the 2,200-t/d underground Totten nickel-copper mine – last Friday, Feb. 21, 2014. Ontario's premier Kathleen Wynne, the federal Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle, members of the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation, and many other community leaders participated in the ceremony.
"Totten Mine is Vale's first new mine in the Sudbury Basin in more than 40 years and represents a significant investment in the future of our operations in Ontario and across Canada," said Peter Poppinga, president and CEO of Vale Canada and Vale's executive director of base metals and information technology. "The opening of Totten mine reinforces the strong confidence we have in our world class base metals assets to deliver sizeable value through all commodity cycles. Vale is committed to its future in Canada and across base metals, and we are pleased to be able to celebrate this historic milestone for our company and the Greater Sudbury community."
"Totten Mine is so important to the prosperity of Northern Ontario," said Premier Wynne. "It will create good jobs and help foster economic growth in the region and beyond. I want to thank Vale for strengthening Ontario's position as a global mining power, while respecting our environment and local communities."
The new mine is located about 40 km west of Copper Cliff and will have a life of at least 20 years. Vale spent US$700 million to develop the mine, employing 500 people at the peak of construction. The mine will provide 200 permanent full time jobs. Vale says Totten also features the latest in mine technology and safety automation, wireless underground communications, location tracking on mechanical and personal protective equipment, and it incorporates design features to minimize its footprint and ecological impact.
The original Totten mine was closed in 1972.
More information about Vale in Canada is available at Vale.com/canada/en.
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