Canada Fluorspar is looking at extending its St. Lawrence fluorspar mine.

The company has filed a proposal for its South Ridge Project for environmental assessment.

Canada Fluorspar operates a mining and milling operation near St. Lawrence on the Burin Peninsula – the only fluorspar mine in North America and the continent’s largest fluorspar deposit.

The company, which is under new management says the extension project is driven by growing global demand for the mineral which is recognized by Ottawa as essential to clean technologies including aluminum production, refrigerants, batteries and electronics.

The company is hoping that restarting the mine, which will take pressure off of industries looking for supplies could be in operation and sustain jobs for the next three decades.

The project will include a new open pit and will make use of the existing processing mill, tailing facility, roads and export terminal.

The project was registered in April with the minister’s decision expected in early June.