Vale may be closing its Thompson nickel smelter and refinery in 2018, but the company still has confidence in its future in the northern Manitoba city.
That was one of the messages from Ryan Land, corporate affairs and organizational development manager for Vale’s Manitoba unit, as he recently addressed Thompson’s chamber of commerce.
Land echoed comments made last month by another Vale official, describing new developments such as a concentrate load-out facility and a tailings expansion that represent a $100-million-plus investment in Thompson.
This, Land said, is an indication of the faith Vale has in the potential for further development in northern Manitoba.
“We drew the support of Vale’s executive board for investments at a remarkably challenging point in the market,” he said. “Where other investments have been deferred and delayed, or declined, this is one they’ve made.”
