Active mines in British Columbia
These thriving operations keep B.C.'s mining industry buzzing with activity
We've compiled a list of some of the top active mines in British Columbia, along with key information on the location, commodity, owner and other features of each.
Fording River
Owner: Teck Resources
Commodity: Coal
Mining Type: Open pit
Mine Life: To 2050
Employees: Approximately 175
Teck's Fording River operation is located 29 kilometres northeast of the community of Elkford, in southeastern British Columbia. Fording River is comprised of approximately 23,000 hectares of coal lands.
Coal mined at Fording River is primarily steelmaking coal, although a small amount of thermal coal is also produced. The current annual production capacities of the mine and preparation plant are approximately 9.0 million and 9.5 million tonnes of clean coal, respectively.
Proven and probable reserves at Fording River are projected to support mining at current planned production rates for a further 74 years.
Greenhills
Owner: Teck Resources
Commodity: Coal
Mining Type: Open pit
Mine Life: To 2024
Teck's Greenhills operation is located eight kilometres northeast of the community of Elkford, in southeastern British Columbia. Greenhills is comprised of approximately 11,800 hectares of coal lands.
Greenhills is operated under a joint venture agreement among Teck, POSCO Canada Limited (“POSCAN”) and POSCAN’s parent, POSCO. Pursuant to the agreement, Teck has an 80 percent interest in the joint venture while POSCAN has a 20 percent interest.
Coal mined at Greenhills is primarily steelmaking coal, although a small amount of thermal coal is also produced. The current annual production capacities of the mine and preparation plant (on a 100% basis) are 5.2 and 5.2 million tonnes of clean coal, respectively.
Proven and probable reserves at Greenhills are projected to support mining at current planned production rates for a further 15 years.
Line Creek
Owner: Teck Resources
Commodity: Coal
Mining Type: Open pit
Mine Life: To 2019
Teck's Line Creek operation is located approximately 25 kilometres north of Sparwood in southeastern British Columbia. Line Creek supplies steelmaking and thermal coal to a variety of international and domestic customers.
Line Creek consists of approximately 8,200 hectares of coal lands.
The current annual production capacities of the mine and preparation plant are approximately 3.5 and 3.5 million tonnes of clean coal, respectively.
At current planned production rates Line Creek has an estimated remaining reserve life of approximately 20 years.
Elkview
Owner: Teck Resources
Commodity: Coal
Mining Type: Open pit
Mine Life: To 2044
Employees: Approximately 700
Teck's Elkview operation is located approximately three kilometres east of Sparwood in southeastern British Columbia. Teck has a 95 percent partnership interest in Elkview. The remaining 5 percent is indirectly held equally by Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation, a Japanese steel producer, and POSCO, a Korean steel producer, each of which acquired a 2.5 percent interest in 2005.
Elkview is comprised of approximately 27,100 hectares of coal lands. The coal produced is a high-quality mid-volatile hard coking coal. Lesser quantities of lower grade hard coking coal are also produced. The current annual production capacities of the mine and preparation plant (on a 100% basis) are approximately 6.5 million and 6.5 million tonnes of clean coal, respectively.
At current planned production rates, Elkview is estimated to have a remaining reserve life of approximately 34 years.
Coal Mountain Project
Owner: Teck Resources
Commodity: Coal
Mining Type: Open pit
Mine Life: To 2018
Employees: Approximately 175
Teck's Coal Mountain operation is located 30 kilometres southeast of Sparwood in southeastern British Columbia. Coal Mountain is comprised of approximately 3,000 hectares of coal lands.
Coal Mountain produces both steelmaking and thermal coal. The current annual production capacities of the mine and preparation plant are approximately 2.7 and 3.5 million tonnes of clean coal, respectively.
Proven and probable reserves at Coal Mountain are projected to support mining at current planned production rates for a further 7 years.
Most of the over 175 employees live nearby in Fernie, Sparwood or the Crowsnest Pass. These communities offer incredible opportunities for outdoor recreation and are set within the beautiful Rocky Mountains and the Alberta foothills.
