Renewed interest in Bell Island's iron mines

Almost 40 years since Bell Island's iron mines closed, there's renewed interest in mining the ore deposits.

Last Friday the provincial government issued a call for proposals for plans to develop what's left of the iron ore.

Natural Resources Minister Ed Byrne says the call was issued in response to inquiries from an out-of-province firm.

Byrne would not name the company.

The province is inviting proposals for development of all or part of a 4,600-hectare property.

Bell Island is in Conception Bay, on the northern part of the Avalon Peninsula. The original iron mine opened in 1894 and mining ended in 1966.

For a while it was the largest iron-ore producer in Canada.

Byrne says things have changed in the iron ore business since Bell Island was shut down and a more efficient mining process may be viable in today's markets.

Byrne says he and his officials are cautiously optimistic about renewed iron ore production on Bell Island.