Hopes Advance Iron Mining Project

The project consists of the construction, operation and decommissioning of an open-pit iron ore mine near Aupaluk, in Nunavik. The proponent estimates that the mine will generate from 10 to 20 million tonnes of iron ore concentrate product per year over a planned operation period of 48 years with a daily average extraction rate of 72,000 to 144,000 tonnes. The ore would be concentrated by a process based on gravity separation. For the shipment of the iron ore to European and Asian markets, the proponent is proposing to construct a marine terminal consisting of a 330 meter loading wharf, a tug moorage area, a commercial wharf and a causeway. The concentrate would then be pumped to the marine terminal through a 26 km long pipeline for shipping. The proponent may opt for a 190 MW thermal generating station as an energy source for his operations. Based on the proponent’s tentative timelines, production would start in 2016.