History of the
Mary River Project
The Mary River Project is an open pit mine with among the richest iron ore deposits ever discovered, consisting of high-grade iron ore deposits that can be mined, crushed, and screened into marketable products. No processing is required and no tailings are produced in the operations, making it ideal for producing green steel, which is in growing demand from companies racing to reduce their carbon footprints.
Regulatory History
Original Baseline Studies and Environmental Assessment – 2008 to 2012
Baffinland conducted numerous studies and assessments in support of the Mary River Project, including an extensive environmental assessment, from 2008 to 2012, undertaken by the NIRB, who is the sole environmental assessment authority in Nunavut (pursuant to Article 12 of the Nunavut Agreement).
Project Certificate No. 005 - 2012
The Mary River Project was approved by the Minister of Northern Affairs and the NIRB issued Project Certificate No. 005 on December 28, 2012. The Project Certificate authorizes Baffinland to proceed with the Mary River Project, including mining iron ore at the Mary River Mine, and the year-round transportation and shipping of that iron ore to market, via the Steensby Railway, the Steensby Port, and a southern shipping route from Steensby Port through the Foxe Basin to the world market.
Amendment No. 1 to Project Certificate No. 005 - Early Revenue Phase (ERP), 2014
The Early Revenue Phase proposal added components to the approved Mary River Project, including the transportation of 4.2 MTPA of iron ore by truck from the Mary River Mine, via the Tote Road, and that the shipping of that iron ore to market from Milne Port through Eclipse Sound to Baffin Bay. This “phased approach” to the development of the Mary River Project allowed Baffinland to start with a smaller mining operation, as it worked towards the eventual construction and operation of the Steensby Railway and Port. The Minister approved the Early Revenue Phase proposal and the NIRB issued Amendment No. 1 to the Project Certificate on May 28, 2014.
Amendment No. 2-5 of the Project Certificate – Production Increase Proposal Amendments – 2018 to 2023
Baffinland applied for and received further amendments to the Project Certificate in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2023, which allowed it to increase the transportation of iron ore along the Tote Road and Milne Inlet by an additional 1.8 MTPA, for a total of 6.0 MTPA. Baffinland has continued to confirm its intention to eventually proceed with the Steensby Components.
Steensby Components – Current Status
Baffinland is currently in a position to move forward to secure funding for the approved Steensby Components of the Mary River Project. The full potential of the Mary River Project cannot be realized until the Steensby Railway is developed.
The Steensby Railway is approved under Project Certificate No. 005, Amendment No. 1 to the North Baffin Regional Land Use Plan granted by the Nunavut Planning Commission in 2024; the Steensby Land Order in Council granted by the Governor in Council in 2013, and the Type A Water Licence issued by the NWB in 2013.
Baffinland has now applied for the remaining activity specific authorizations for the Steensby Components, including Fisheries Act Authorizations, the Section 98 Application under the CTA and Navigation Protection Program approval.
Building on the 2012 FEIS, FEIS Addendums and over ten years of monitoring data collected since the Mary River Project began in 2015, to support these applications Baffinland has prepared various analyses, technical memos and railway engineering reports, including:
- summaries of ongoing Inuit and public engagement since mining operations began in 2015;
- updated freshwater and marine assessments between 2021 and 2023 in areas covering the Mary River Mine, Steensby Railway and Steensby Port;
- updated aerial caribou survey in 2023 covering the Steensby Railway and Port areas;
- updated geotechnical surveys in 2023;
- updated archeological surveys in 2023;
- updated technical memos on arctic conditions and climate change design elements, as well as noise and vibration.