The Minister of Natural Resources of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has granted Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Ltd written authorization to increase the transport of iron ore concentrate over the Bloom Lake railway by an additional 8 million tns/yr, bringing the total tonnage of iron ore concentrate transported by CLM over such railway to 16 million tns/yr. The corporation continues to implement its plan to double its capacity for mining operations at Bloom Lake by the end of 2012 and expects to initiate construction work for its new process facilities before the end of this year, and anticipates that it will reach a rate of production of 8 million tns/yr in the first quarter of 2011.