Forwarding coal mines part of Bell's China trip

B.C. jobs minister Pat Bell said progress is being made creating a new coal mine in northeast B.C. during a post-trade mission press conference.

Bell said a memorandums of understanding between miners and Chinese steelmakers were signed for the Gething 25 kilometres property south of Hudson's Hope.

Canadian Kailuan Dehua Mines Co., Ltd., a partnership formed in July 2010 and includes the Kailuan Group Co., Ltd, Shougang Group and Canadian Dehua International Mines Group Inc. Canadian Kailuan Dehua Mines Co., Ltd., is behind the Gething project.

The project would cost $860 million to build, create 773 direct jobs and 4,000 indirect jobs, according to the provincial government.

Bell also said he'll meet with the West Moberly First Nation, which has opposed the Gething project, in the next week or so.

"This is a project that we want to see developed in an environmentally sensitive way, in a way that respects the first nation's important cultural and heritage elements in the area, so we need to better understand all the issues and concerns," Bell said.

"Oftentimes, I find there are ways to work through challenging issues like this and am looking forward to the meetings we will be having."

Bell said delegates also met with Xingwen Mining Group Ltd., a Chinese miner that holds 51 per cent in the Sukunka or Bullmoose property near Tumbler Ridge.

"While we were not at an MOU signing stage with that particular company, it was my third meeting with them and they are another one that we think we will see moving forward," Bell said.

Bell also referred to a third project that has drawn Chinese backing worth $500 million and standing to create 400 direct jobs but further details have not been provided citing confidentiality agreements.