Mine Project In Nashwauk Steps Closer to Reopening

Chippewa Capital Partners and Governor Mark Dayton Reached a Settlement Tuesday

NASHWAUK, Minn.- An Iron Ore Mine project in Nashwauk is steps closer to reopening.

Chippewa Capital Partners and Governor Mark Dayton reached a settlement, allowing Chippewa to take over the Former Essar Steel Project.

Essar had been working on the project in Nashwauk for more than 7 years, but after racking up millions of dollars in debt, Essar filed for bankruptcy last July

Nashwauk residents say with mines across the iron range closing, times have been tough in the area.

“You can see right now it’s quiet up here on main street. And it’s a shot in the arm for everybody. There were a lot of investments in rental properties, just sitting empty,” said Milton Latvala who works in Public Utilities for the City of Nashwauk.

But now, the reopening of the Nashwauk project could become a reality. With Chippewa taking over the project, construction on the mine could start as soon as September, potentially bringing hundreds of jobs back to the range.

“It’s positive to see that things might be coming to fruition here and that we have the potential of an industry that will provide 90 years of jobs,” said Ben DeNucci, the Mayor of the City of Nashwauk.

The final product the mine will be producing once it’s up and running will be Hot Briquette Iron.

The Mayor of Nashwauk believes the mine having an Iron Plant to create the Hot Briquette Iron will make the mine successful, as opposed to just producing taconite.