Quebec does it...Iceland does it.... now Russia is doing it....

Russian metal producers eye hydro power is the headline for a Reuters UK story. Now this is certainly not a surprise - as all jurisdictions with significant hydro potential - are creating industrial economies around the resource.

Russia's energy giant Hydro OGK is making moves to attract industry by dangling the hydro-power carrot.

OGK senior executive Vyacheslav Sinyugin says metal producers are approaching them for possible joint ventures and investment.

Here are some of the direct quotes from Sinyugin:

"Major energy consumers are very important clients for hydroelectric companies the world over. Russia is no exception."

Sinyugin said large energy consumers such as metals producers were attracted by stable prices for long-term supply.

"What attracts these clients? First and foremost, price stability. The only factor influencing prices is tax payments, compared with fuel prices that can fluctuate widely.

For some reason these large energy consumers are looking everywhere but Newfoundland and Labrador. They must be absolutely certain that in order to use Labrador power - they will have to follow it to the jurisdiction we export it to. This is just not acceptable anymore. Our plans for the export of hydro-electric power must change - and industry must be sent a clear message.

If you want to use the power from the Lower Churchill - then you must set-up in Labrador.

What does the Star say?

A blogger says that CVRD is going to speed up the smelter/refinery in Long Harbour - and that he found that info in the Toronto Star.

The article he refers to says this:

And the company has a study underway on building a processing plant for Voisey's Bay in Labrador. In a deal with the Newfoundland and Labrador government, Inco committed to build the plant by 2011, and CVRD has said it is trying to speed that up.

And there was no mention in Sue's Blog that CVRD would be looking to build a second Processing Plant.

CVRD - 2007 investment release says little about Voisey's Bay

This is the latest discussion from CVRD on Voisey's Bay.
This was taken from their 2007 Investment Outline released yesterday. They plan to spend 6.3 billion on various projects - I could not find a dollar amount related to Voisey's Bay.

The Release is 8 pages long and this is the only reference to Voisey's Bay:

Voisey’s Bay, a nickel sulphide project at the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, began operations in September 2005, and is currently concluding its ramp up process, producing nickel concentrate processed at the smelters of Sudbury and Thompson. A study to build a processing plant is underway.

I did notice they are spending significant research dollars in the non-ferrous sector (this includes nickel) and of note they are testing a hydro-met process for a copper processing potential.

For the complete Release PRESS HERE

A mistake or a sign of things to come?

CVRD the company that purchased INCO has an interesting philosophy that Labradorians may be interested in.
Currently they are in contract negotiations with workers in Sudbury and:
Below you will find a Sue's Blog post from last week.
Now the Resource Invester Online

says this:
CVRD is in the detailing phase for the plant at Voisey's Bay and is considering investments at the Thompson mine in Manitoba, as well as PT Inco in Indonesia.

This quote from a story in the Northern Life

Management from Xstrata and CVRD made it clear after they successfully completed historic deals to take over Falconbridge and Inco, respectfully, last summer and fall they would work together to cut costs at Sudbury operations, said Grylls.

Most of the speculation has been over lowering transportation costs and processing ore at facilities closer to their respective mines.

Will CVRD look to Labrador as a possibility for the processing facility?

Is CVRD looking at Labrador ???

CVRD the company that purchased INCO has an interesting philosophy that Labradorians may be interested in.
Currently they are in contract negotiations with workers in Sudbury and:

This quote from a story in the Northern Life

Management from Xstrata and CVRD made it clear after they successfully completed historic deals to take over Falconbridge and Inco, respectfully, last summer and fall they would work together to cut costs at Sudbury operations, said Grylls.

Most of the speculation has been over lowering transportation costs and processing ore at facilities closer to their respective mines.

Will CVRD look to Labrador as a possibility for the processing facility?