Thunder Bay — Feb. 24, 2022: Today, the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission released a Hydrometallurgical Study.
The study outlines significant regional economic opportunities due to the enormous polymetallic copper nickel potential in Northwestern Ontario.
"Northwestern Ontario and the Lake Superior Region (Minnesota/Michigan) are blessed with world-class copper-nickel-palladium deposits; many on the cusp of production,” says John Mason, Mining Services Project Manager, Thunder Bay CEDC. “Thunder Bay is well positioned to process the mineralization from these deposits and produce green critical minerals for a modern climate conscious society.”
The purpose of the study is to introduce a high-level review of the possibilities of a copper nickel producing hydrometallurgical industry based in the municipality of Thunder Bay, Ontario. It is hoped that this review will stimulate industry interest and encourage further studies of the significant possibilities lying in the application of modern hydrometallurgy in Thunder Bay.
“The team at the CEDC has undertaken many activities since the release of the Mining Readiness Strategy in 2021,” says Eric Zakrewski, CEO, Thunder Bay CEDC. “Opportunities were identified by the Mining Readiness Strategy to support the booming mining sector in Northwestern Ontario. This new study helps us further our impact and support the mining sector in Thunder Bay. It’s very exciting as new modern hydrometallurgy is a state of the art technology and could provide tremendous economic opportunities for the City.”
Thunder Bay is a central location with a skilled labor pool, established mining support industries, low carbon electricity, available water, and strong transportation links. As a result, Thunder Bay is well situated to supply North American demand for the metals required by the green economy.
