As a result of the acquisition of North Limited in 2000, Rio Tinto acquired significant iron ore and pellet operations in Canada operated by the Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC), which has been Canada's premier supplier of iron ore for five decades. Rio Tinto has a 58.7 per cent interest in IOC which commenced mining operations in 1952. Reserves at IOC are sufficient for more than 20 years at current levels of production. IOC sells into North America, Europe and Asia. IOC operates an open pit mine, concentrator and iron ore pellet-making plant at Labrador City, Newfoundland, as well as a 420 kilometre railway and port facilities at Sept-Iles on the Gulf of St. Lawrence.