Northshore Mining extends shutdown

Northshore plant
The Northshore Mining processing plant near Silver Bay, Minn.
MPR Photo/Stephanie Hemphill

Taconite producer Cliffs Natural Resources has extended a shutdown at its Northshore Mining Co. facilities in Babbitt and Silver Bay.

The shutdown at the Babbitt taconite mine and Silver Bay taconite processing plant is being extended through July, according to an announcement from the coal and taconite producer.

Northshore mining began a six-week shutdown in April. Company president Donald Gallagher says it's necessary to keep production in line with demand.

The company has revised this year's estimated production at Northshore Mining to 3.2 million tons of taconite. The plant has a capacity of 5.8 million tons.

Northshore now has 120 employees on layoff status, and will be adding another 280 on May 10. Last week, Cliffs Natural Resources announced a $7.4 million loss in the first quarter.

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