ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Placentia West-Bellevue MHA Mark Browne is touting the economic impact construction of Vale’s Voisey’s Bay underground mine will have in his own district and the province as a whole.
Vale’s hydromet nickel-copper-cobalt processing facility in located in Long Harbour, in the Bellevue area of Browne’s district.
The underground mine construction was announced June 11 in St. John’s, and according to the provincial government, will extend the operating life of Voisey’s Bay by at least 15 years.
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The underground mine will result in 16,000 person years of employment during the five-year construction period. It is anticipated there will be 1,700 direct jobs at the underground mine and Long Harbour processing plant once operational.
“The Long Harbour processing plant has been a major contributor to the local economy since it began operations in 2014,” Browne said in a June 11 release.
“In addition to providing well-paying jobs to hundreds of people in my district, the spinoff for local businesses cannot be understated.”
Long Harbour–Mount Arlington Heights Mayor Gary Keating said the announcement demonstrates Vale’s long-term commitment to the province and his town.
“This is great news for Long Harbour–Mount Arlington Heights as it assures a firm supply of the raw materials needed to operate the Vale processing plant in our community for the foreseeable future,” he said.
