Written by GORDON HOEKSTRA
Citizen staff
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Tuesday, 25 November 2008 |
Western Canadian Coal has received an environmental assessment certificate for its $55-million Hermann Coal Mine project in northern B.C.
The mine has a capacity to produce up to 1.1 million tonnes of metallurgical coal annually during the next 10 years. The mine is located near Tumbler Ridge, 150 kilometres north of Prince George, and is expected to create about 100 jobs a year.
Environment Minister Barry Penner and Energy and Mines Minister Richard Neufeld made the decision to grant environmental approval for the mine after considering a review by the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office.
The review concluded that project should not have significant adverse effects based on measures and commitments in Western Coal's certificate, including monitoring and managing water quality and restoring wildlife habitat when the mine is closed with a focus on caribou.
Before the project can proceed, the company still needs to get the provincial licences and other approvals.
Once the project is up and operating, it's estimated the mine will produce at least $52 million in provincial and municipal taxes.
Western Coal has been having a good financial year, primarily a result of higher coal prices.
The company posted record sales and profits of $44.7 million in the three months ending in September. In the first six months of its fiscal year, which begins in April, the company has had a profit of $104.5 million.
Western Coal was started work in the Tumbler Ridge area five years ago in an effort to tap into a surge in world coal demand by taking advantage of already-proven coal resources in northeastern B.C., as well as using excess railway and port capacity at Prince Rupert. All the coal travels through Prince George, which is a service and supply centre for many mining operations in northern B.C.
The Tumbler Ridge area has a rich coal mine history. Three years ago, the Bullmoose coal mine closed, ending two decades of coal mining in the region. Two years earlier, the larger Quintette Coal Mine closed.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 25 November 2008 )
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