Baffinland Asks for Emergency Order to Increase Mine Production, Warns of Mass Layoffs

Baffinland is asking the federal Canadian government for an emergency order that would allow it to continue to mine and truck up to six million tonnes of ore from its Mary River iron mine in Nunavut this year — saying the mine's future is otherwise at risk, CBC Canada reports.

The company was allowed to increase its production from 4.2 million tonnes of ore to six million tonnes back in 2018. That temporary approval was initially supposed to expire at the end of 2019, but was extended to the end of 2021 instead. 

Baffinland says it submitted a request on Wednesday to Dan Vandal, Canada's Minister of Northern Affairs, to issue a new emergency order to increase production. 

If the order is not granted, Baffinland said in a statement it would have to suspend operations at the Mary River mine for the rest of the year after production hits 4.2 million tonnes.