A plan developed by two First Nations to build a new highway to potential mining sites in northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire region has been approved by the provincial government, Kallanish reports.

The plan for what is known as the Northern Road Link was developed by the Webequie First Nation and the Marten Falls First Nation. The new all-season, multi-use road would connect the two communities and mining projects to the Ontario highway system. The road would be between 117 and 164 kilometres. The Ring of Fire region is about 500 km northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Ontario approved the project’s terms of reference submitted by the First Nation groups that will allow environmental reviews to begin.

Ontario-based Ring of Fire Metals, a subsidiary of Australia’s Wyloo Metals, is developing plans for its Eagle’s Nest nickel-copper-platinum-palladium project in that region. Work is underway. The company says 70-plus regional nickel targets have been identified. The mine will have an initial mine life of 11 years with the potential for a nine-year extension.

Last April, Wyloo Metals acquired Noront Resources and its Eagle’s Nest project in a CAD 616.9 million ($485.57m) deal, after a lengthy battle with BHP. Noront Resources then became a private company owned by Wyloo Metals and Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest.

Ontario also announced that Ring of Fire Metals is getting CAD 500,000 to test the feasibility of repurposing and storing all tailings underground in the form of backfill mine workings. Other mining companies getting Ontario grants for critical minerals projects were Frontier Lithium, Vale Canada, EV Nickel and Carbonix Inc.