TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Brazilian diversified mining global miner Vale on Friday officially opened the Totten mine, in Ontario’s Sudbury basin – Vale’s first new base metals mine in the area in more than 40 years.

At a ceremony attended by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, provincial Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle, members of the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation and other community leaders, Vale affirmed its commitment to a future in Canada and base metals.

Vale Canada president and CEO Peter Poppinga said that the opening of Totten mine reinforced the strong confidence the company has in its world-class base metals assets “to deliver sizeable value through all commodity cycles".

“I want to thank Vale for strengthening Ontario's position as a global mining power, while respecting our environment and local communities,” Premier Wynne said.

With a budget of more than $700-million, the Totten mine construction took seven years to complete. About 500 people were employed at the site during peak development periods. During construction, the mine achieved more than one-million person-hours without a lost-time injury.

Located in Worthington, about 40 km west of Copper Cliff, the mine was now in operation and would employ about 200 people. It would produce copper, nickel and precious metals over the next 20 years.

"There is no question that Ontario is a world leader in mining, and with incredible partners like Vale, which invest in our province and our people, our reputation can only grow stronger. When a new mine opens, it has an immensely positive impact on the regional economy and every community surrounding it shares in the benefits,” Gravelle said.

The Totten mine features the latest in mine technology and safety automation, including a wireless underground communication system and location tracking on mechanical and personal protective equipment. It has also incorporated industry-leading environmental features in its design to reduce its operating footprint and impacts on the surrounding area.

The Ontario provincial government of Wednesday launched a comprehensive mining safety review to improve the health and wellbeing of workers in the sector, heeding calls for reform after two miners died at Vale’s Sudbury operations in 2011.

Starting early in the New Year, the province's chief prevention officer would lead an advisory group of industry, labour, health and safety representatives to begin a sweeping review on a wide range of areas within the sector.

The review followed months of intense persuasion by several unions, families and friends of the two men – Jason Chenier (35) and Jordan Fram (26) – killed in the June 8, 2011 accident at Stobie underground mine.

Toronto-based Vale Canada, which owns and operates the operation, was in September fined a record C$1.05-million for the death of the men after Vale Canada pleaded guilty to three charges in a plea bargain, which some had billed as a betrayal of workers and their families by the provincial government.

"Totten mine represents the future of mining for Vale's Sudbury operations,” said Vale VP of Ontario and UK operations Kelly Strong.

With 42 mines currently operating in the province, Ontario is Canada’s largest producer of non-fuel minerals and a global mining force. Capital investment in new mining projects in Ontario has risen from C$600-million in 2002 to more than C$2.8-billion in 2013.

Ontario’s mining industry supports more than 100 000 people across the province, directly and indirectly.