On February 16, Toronto, Ontario, Canada-based Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Limited (LIM) announced that it has received final environmental approval and project release from the government of Newfoundland and Labrador for its Schefferville Area direct shipping iron ore (DSO) project in Western Labrador.
According to a company press release, on February 12, Newfoundland and Labrador's minister of environment and conservation said that the Schefferville Area iron ore mine is released from any further environmental assessment.
Commercial production from the phase 1 of the project is expected to begin in the summer of 2010 at a rate of up to 1 million mt per year, increasing to 3 million mt by 2012, thereafter potentially increasing up to 6 million mt with Phases 2 and 3.
The ore excavated is estimated to contain 57.4 percent iron and it is expected that the beneficiation process will enhance the product grade of lump ore to 66.98 percent and the fines to 67.23 percent.