The province’s energy minister is optimistic that Vale’s Voisey’s Bay mine will be in operation for many years to come.

Vale announced on Friday that it has signed a deal with Tesla to supply the nickel needed for electric car batteries. That’s good news for Voisey’s Bay and Long Harbour which is already providing low-carbon product to the market.

Minister Andrew Parsons says the size of the deposit in Labrador is huge and the company has already announced plans that will move the mine site underground.

Vale produced the first ore mined at their Reid Brook operation in June, and is moving into two underground mines, work that is about 75 per cent complete. That, says Parsons, will extend the life of the mine as Vale puts it “for many years to come.”