Two lithium processing companies are now looking to build a plant in northwestern Ontario.
But Kenora might be by-passed by Thunder Bay for the new facility.
Local mining expert John Mason says roughly 100 jobs will be created, once Rock Tech Lithium and Avalon Advanced Materials bring material from mining sites near Kenora and Nipigon.
Mason says the idea is to establish a central chemical plant owned by the two companies.
He notes a number of steps remain and this won’t happen tomorrow.
Mason adds it will still take about two to four years for further production, and clearance of environmental assessments.
