Isua Iron Mine
The proposed Isua Iron Mine in Greenland was planned to ship iron ore from open-pit mines in Greenland to manufacturers in Europe and Asia.[1][2] Like the Baffinland Iron Mine on Baffin Island, the costs of placing a mine in a remote area will be compensated by the high quality of the ore. The ore will be 70 percent iron, so it will require minimal processing before being shipped.
The mine site is approximately 150 kilometres northeast of Nuuk, just south of the Arctic Circle.[1] The mine would be at the same latitude as Manitsaq, a small port on Greenland's east cost, about 100 kilometres away. The mine would be at the edge of Greenland ice-cap.
In 2011, according to London Mining Incorporated, the firm planning to develop the site, the mine would be constructed and in operation by 2015.[1] It was projected to ship 15,000,000 million tonnes of ore per year. However, Jane George, of Nunatsiaq, reported on April 23, 2013, due to a drop in the price of iron ore, development of the mine had stalled.[2] Construction had been projected to cost at least $2.35 billion dollars.
Where the similar Baffinland Iron Mine would ship ore from the mine site to its port on a 150 km railway the Isua Iron Mine's plans were to transport the mine as a slurry, through a slurry-pipeline.[3] The port would be built in Taseraarssuk Bay.[1] The bay is ice-free year-round.
Jane George, of Nunatsiaq, compared the relative open-ness and transparency with which Baffinland prepared for its environmental review with the criticism London Mining received for its opacity.[1] She pointed out that London Mining had been criticized for failing to effectively publicize its public informatio meetings, and it had been criticized for a failure to prepare briefing materials in the Danish language and in Greenlandic.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Jane George. Huge Isua iron mine under development in western Greenland: “No known environmental issues" to deal with, says London Mining, Nunatsiaq, 2011-09-19. Retrieved on 2013-04-24.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jane George. Prospects fade for huge Greenland iron mine: Iron prices falling, construction plans await financing, Nunatsiaq, 2013-04-23. Retrieved on 2013-04-24.
- ↑ Isua, Greenland, London Mining Incorporated. Retrieved on 2013-04-24.
- ↑ Ensidigt borgermøde om Isukasia, Sermitsiaq, 2011-08-30. Retrieved on 2013-04-24. (in Danish language)