Strategic moves ahead with Quebec approval process for 4Mt/y pellet plant
Canadian developer Strategic Resources has advanced the environmental permitting process for its proposed four-million-tonne-a-year iron-ore pellet plant at Port Saguenay, Quebec, after receiving questions from the province’s Ministry of the Environment regarding amendments to its existing authorisations.
The TSX-V-listed company reported on Wednesday that it had submitted all required environmental documentation and studies to support an amendment to its certificate of authorisation, which would allow for the construction and operation of the pellet plant as outlined in its March 2024 prefeasibility study.
Strategic said Québec’s Ministry of the Environment had now issued follow-up questions as part of its review. Management and its external environmental advisers will assess the queries and prepare detailed responses to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
The company said it viewed receipt of the questions as a routine and constructive step in the approval process and remained on schedule to complete the authorisation modification. The government’s review was expected to take several additional months, subject to the timely submission and assessment of responses.
Strategic plans to build the pellet plant at Port Saguenay to leverage Québec’s low-cost hydroelectric power and access to natural gas, along with marine access to both the Great Lakes and Atlantic seaborne markets. The company believes these factors provide a competitive advantage relative to other Canadian pellet plant sites.
In parallel, construction of the multi-user electric pipe conveyor system at Port Saguenay is nearing completion. The company said commissioning is planned for the spring, with all conveyor modules already installed. The system has been designed to transport a range of products, including direct-reduction-grade iron-ore concentrate to the proposed pellet plant, and to support pellet exports to its offtake and marketing partner.
