Minnesota s governor has a suggestion for Cleveland-Cliffs, but the company has its own idea
Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. has declined politely a suggestion from the governor of Minnesota about how to extend the mining life of what s known as Hibbing Taconite on Minnesota s Iron Range.
Gov. Tim Walz in letters last week suggested a partnership of Cliffs and U.S. Steel, according to this article from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
But the newspaper reports that Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves said in a statement that he informed Walz on Monday, Feb. 8, that Cleveland-Cliffs has identified a solution to extend HibTac s life of mine, using land already under the control of Cleveland-Cliffs. With this solution, no land swap with other companies will be necessary to extend the life of HibTac.
Regulators weigh environmental review of Milepost 7 tailings basin expansion after Cleveland-Cliffs submits permit application. 6:00 pm, Jan. 22, 2021 ×
An aerial view looking southeast at Cleveland-Cliffs’ Milepost 7 tailings basin. The basin holds 40 years worth of tailings behind dams and on top of a 2,100-acre footprint. An expansion project planned by Cliffs, would expand that footprint by 850 acres a 40% increase in the basin’s surface area. The darker areas visible in the basin are shadows of cumulus clouds. (Clint Austin / 2020 file / caustin@duluthnews.com)
Environmental groups say the DNR is required to, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is waiting on the DNR to make its decision before it proceeds with its own separate permit for the project.
Cleveland-Cliffs announced Tuesday that it donated $1 million to address food insecurity in 35 communities across North America including some in Minnesota through the Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation.
Â
  Plant idlings, employee furloughs and a production downturn, hit the industry hard.
  At the same time, mega consolidations and acquisitions hold promise to lead the iron and steel industries into a new future.
  Major industry consolidation occurred some 20 years ago. However, even more consolidation took place this year. Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. led the way.
  ⢠Cliffs completed two major consolidations which for the first time moved the 173-year-old company into steelmaking.
  ⢠United States Steel Corp. expanded into electric arc furnace steelmaking and agreed to option interest in its mammoth Minntac Mine in Mountain Iron.
  After the industry hit the skids in the spring, domestic steel prices and global iron ore prices by the end of 2020 skyrocketed to the highest levels in years.   Â