PALMER, MI-- Cliffs Natural Resources has entered into an agreement with one of its customers that will extend the life of the Empire Mine in Palmer.
Cliffs announced Thursday a revised contract with ArcelorMittal USA for an additional two years through the end of January, 2017, with a mutual option to extend for a third year.
The Empire Mine was scheduled to close this year because it did not have a customer for pellet production beyond 2014. The partnership agreement with ArcelorMittal was also set to expire automatically in December of this year without the option to extend. The new agreement extends the life of the Empire into 2016.
P. Kelly Tompkins is Cliffs’ Executive Vice President of External Affairs. He says, “This agreement was made possible by the close working relationships we have with ArcelorMittal, both at the commercial and operational level. Importantly, this extension builds upon the long-term customer and partner relationship we have with ArcelorMittal, particularly at the Empire Mine. We are pleased to continue as a reliable supplier of high-quality iron ore pellets to one of ArcelorMittal USA’s facilities, which is also good news for our dedicated employees who have demonstrated that Empire remains a safe, viable producer of high-quality, cost-competitive pellets.”
