In a statement, the Steelworkers said the firm is proposing to acquire the Pointe-Noire pellet plant in Sept-Iles, Que., and resume production. The plant employed about 165 people, including Steelworkers, when it was closed in 2013.

“Bedrock Industries has informed us of its intention to relaunch the plant and its desire to negotiate a collective agreement,” Nicolas Lapierre, USW coordinator for Quebec’s North Shore region, said in a statement. “This is great news for the community. We will make every effort to ensure that the conditions are right for the plant’s reopening.”

The Steelworkers said that Bedrock, which acquired Canada’s Stelco and brought it out of creditor protection in 2017, is in talks with the plant’s current owner, Société Ferroviaire et Portuaires de Pointe-Noire.

“Bedrock's interest in negotiating a collective agreement indicates a willingness to proceed with this project in the appropriate way. It indicates to us that this is a serious proposal, where workers are seen as partners. We are ready to be part of such a project," said Robert Roy, president of Steelworkers Local 6254, which had represented plant workers.

The pellet plant had been owned by iron ore miner Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., which shut it down on account of high production costs and lower pellet prices. The plant had been part of its Wabush mines, which Cliffs closed in 2014.