Canada’s Baffinland Iron Mines plans to expand operations at its Mary River mine near Pond Inlet, Nunavut, though the company was forced to ask for a court order to end a blockade from a group of hunters that oppose the expansion.
The miner noted that the expansion of the mine was vital to increase the production of iron ore in the area and for the company to remain profitable, according to media reports. The roadblock set up by the hunters near the mine has forced the miner to stop virtually all mining and related operations.
Baffinland is in the process of expanding its mine production to 12mn mt of iron ore per annum, which correlated to double its current capabilities. The project also includes building a railway to move the iron ore to the port for sea transport.
The blockades started as Nunavut Impact Review Board was holding a public hearing process on the proposed mine expansion. Discussions are currently ongoing with the next steps regarding restrictive measures to be decided in the near future.