The project received its environmental decree in spring 2019. Construction began in 2019 and it is expected to be completed by 2022.
The BRM project is one of the only integrated mines and secondary-processing plant projects in Canada, while being the first vanadium plant in North America.
The BRM project is one of the only integrated mines and secondary-processing plant projects in Canada, while being the first vanadium plant in North America.
The secondary processing plant in the Port of Saguenay industrial-port zone will process vanadium, titanium and magnetite (VTM) ore extracted from the Chibougamau mine. BlackRock Metals plans to produce high-quality pig iron, vanadium products as well as titanium products.
Vanadium: stronger, lighter steel alloys
Used in certain steel alloys, vanadium significantly strengthens mechanical resistance, and therefore, reduces the amount of steel needed to make alloys; less steel means less energy used, so less GHG emitted for its production and transport, and ultimately, a reduced carbon footprint.
Vanadium: lighter vehicles
Vanadium reduces the amount of steel required in the manufacture of automobiles and aircraft; it makes them lighter and helps reduce fuel consumption, as in the Volkswagen Golf or Ford F-150.
Vanadium: new generation batteries
The development of vanadium redox batteries makes it possible to store large amounts of energy produced from green sources, but cyclic such as wind, hydro and solar. Vanadium is also considered by the automotive industry to increase battery life. So, more durable batteries that will require less recycling. As a result, an overall decrease in GHG emissions.
Pig iron casting: a key commodity for steel recycling and reduced use of coal
The addition of pig iron is an essential ingredient in steel recycling to reduce impurities. In an effort to reduce its environmental footprint, the steel industry has also begun to replace coal furnaces (BOF) with electric furnaces requiring pig iron, resulting in a significant reduction in GHGs.
Titanium: long live white roofs and buildings
Titanium is largely used for white pigmentation in paints and coating agents. Several large cities are increasingly regulating the use of white roofs to reduce heat islands. And in the white walls, titanium also acts as a catalyst by absorbing nitrates (NOx), a very harmful greenhouse gas. Finally, titanium is used as an ultralight alloy in the aircraft and automobile industry, thereby reducing energy consumption and consequently GHG production.
The secondary processing plant is:
- A long-term structuring project for the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and Chibougamau-Chapais region;
- A formal approach to maximizing economic benefits with regional stakeholders;
- An investment of more than $1.2 billion;
- The creation of quality jobs during the construction and operation phases.
Environmental properties
GREENHOUSE GAS
- Unlike most other producers using coal in its processes, BRM will be using natural gas. By using Quebec’s hydroelectricity, the products manufactured by BRM will have the smallest environmental footprint in the world.
- By opting for rail transportation rather than trucking between Chibougamau and Saguenay, BRM reduces its transportation-related GHGs by half.
WATER
- The process water from the Saguenay secondary processing plant will be 100% recycled.
Why the Saguenay IP Zone?
“Port of Saguenay is a world-class industrial site with an excellent management team and first-class infrastructure”
—Mr. Sean Cleary, President of BlackRock Metals.
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