The proponents of a planned Giscome quarry are weighing their options on how to fuel the development.
Last week, Graymont Western Canada Inc. received provincial government approval to begin the formal environmental assessment application process. One of the key matters to cover off is the impact to the airshed around Eaglet Lake, about 30 kilometres northwest of Prince George.
The quarry would process the onsite limestone deposit into various consumer products. This would require a kiln system to bake the lime at high temperatures, making it useful for processing into other forms. As a result, a steady supply of fuel is needed.
"We have four main possibilities on our list. The early frontrunner, in our minds, is natural gas. We are looking also at woody biomass, coal is also on our options list, and coke [a coal byproduct] is on the board," said company official Rob Beleutz. "Having a solid fuel source is a major issue. We are evaluating all the fuel options available to us, but no liquid. Liquids like diesel are not on our books."
Natural gas is in abundant and affordable supply, but Graymont would need to lay a pipe about 20 kilometres to tap into the nearest supply line. Biomass is generally abundant in the area, but a direct supply would need to be secured. Coal and coke would require rail transportation from northeastern mines, but a rail link is needed for the quarry anyway, but it is still a chore to handle compared to natural gas.
Those are all factors pertaining to getting the fuel source into the mine site. There are also considerations with what happens as it leaves the site, in the form of after-use emissions. There are various ways of mitigating and even utilizing the byproducts of the burning process, and the environmental assessment system will task Graymont with carefully calculating all those variables.
Should all the studies and action plans be approved by the provincial Environmental Assessment Office (public consultations on these factors must also occur) and all licenses obtained to go ahead with the project, the company hopes to break ground in the summer of 2015.
