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British Columbia.
British Columbia is a province with a rich mining history and a wealth of mining potential yet undiscovered. Early mining operations brought gold and coal to the surface; today, these and many other valuable minerals are bringing prosperit...
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Conifex Timber launches biomass power plant
Conifex Timber Inc. commissioned a 36-megawatt biomass power plant in Mackenzie, B.C. that converts sawmill residuals into renewable electricity for over 20,000 homes. The plant provides revenue diversification for the forestry company while solving waste disposal issues by converting 172,000 tons of sawmill residuals annually into valuable fuel.
Santa Fe Metals exploring near historic Sullivan mine
Santa Fe Metals sold its Mexican Cuatro Cienegas property for $150,000 to focus entirely on large-scale zinc-lead-silver targets in southeastern British Columbia, including the Sully project located 30km from the historic Sullivan Mine. The company has defined twin parallel vertical targets at Sully with over 2,000m strike length and recent drilling passed within 100m of the East mass target.
Vote for Ulmer Contracting—they are the Canadian ultimate crew finalist in Vermeer’s crew search
Ulmer Contracting from Vancouver has been selected as the only Canadian crew among 8 finalists in Vermeer's Ultimate Horizontal Directional Drilling Crew contest. The winning crew will receive a new Vermeer D24x40 Series II drill for twelve months and compete at ICUEE 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Ulmer Contracting is the Canadian Ultimate Crew Finalist!
Ulmer Contracting has been selected as the sole Canadian finalist among 8 North American crews for Vermeer's Ultimate Horizontal Directional Drilling Crew contest. The winner will receive use of a new Vermeer D24x40 Series II drill for twelve months and other prizes following a skills competition at ICUEE 2015.
Brucejack Mine receives Mines Act permit and federal approval
Pretium Resources' Brucejack gold and silver mine received final provincial Mines Act permit and federal approvals, clearing the way for construction to begin in 2015. The $750M USD underground mine will create 900 construction jobs and 500 operational jobs over an 18-year mine life, targeting commercial production by 2017.
Coal production in B.C. is a thriving industry
British Columbia's coal industry remains robust despite global headwinds, with Teck Resources operating five major open-pit mines in the Elk Valley that have produced over 500 million tonnes since 1898. The industry generated $4.6 billion in 2013, representing 58% of BC's mining revenues, with most production exported to Asian steel mills via expanded infrastructure at Westshore Terminal.
New Afton raises the bar with ISO 50001 Energy Management Standards
New Gold's New Afton copper-gold mine near Kamloops, BC has become the first mine in North America to achieve ISO 50001 energy management certification. The mine implemented comprehensive energy management across grinding, ventilation, crushing and mobile equipment operations, with BC Hydro funding improvements that save $300,000 annually.
Despite low prices, Canadian coal producers are doing better than most
Canadian coal producers are struggling with metallurgical coal prices down 70% over four years and global oversupply of 15-20 million tonnes. Teck Resources suspended production at six Western Canadian mines for one week each in July, August and September 2015, following dividend cuts and 600 job losses. Despite challenges, analysts say Canadian producers are better positioned than global competitors due to lower operating costs.
Taseko and Soda Creek Indian Band Sign participation and cooperation agreement
Taseko Mines Limited has signed a Participation and Cooperation Agreement with the Soda Creek Indian Band (Xat'sull) for the Gibraltar Mine operations in British Columbia. The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration on environmental and economic issues, with Chief Donna Dixon noting it provides capacity for direct engagement and supports community development initiatives.
Teck reports on Q2 earning—remains “cash flow positive”
Teck Resources reported Q2 adjusted profit of $79 million despite challenging coal market conditions, maintaining cash flow positive operations across all assets. The company announced rotating shutdowns at steelmaking coal mines affecting 4,400 workers in BC, while maintaining strong liquidity of over $6.5 billion.
New plant in B.C. for Sika Canada Inc.
Sika Canada Inc. is constructing a new 30,000 square foot mortar and concrete admixtures manufacturing plant in Surrey, BC. The facility will feature modular production equipment and will be the company's fourth Canadian manufacturing site, designed to improve product availability and reduce delivery times for Pacific Northwest customers.
B.C. authorizes restricted re-start for Mount Polley Mine
The Mount Polley Mine in B.C. has been authorized to restart restricted operations after careful evaluation by provincial authorities. The mine will operate at roughly half capacity for up to 220 workers, with strict conditions including no water discharge off-site and use of Springer Pit for tailings management instead of the previous tailings facility.
$748K to KAST—Mining and metals industry in Kootenay region benefits from investment
KAST received $748,601 in federal funding to establish MIDAS, a metallurgical industry development accelerator in the West Kootenay region. The center will provide downstream metallurgical expertise, digital fabrication capabilities, and business development support to strengthen the region's mining and metals sector.
Teck’s Celebrity Pie Throw Raises $1.1M for BC Children’s Hospital
Mining for Miracles, BC's mining industry fundraising campaign, raised over $1.06 million at the Teck Celebrity Pie Throw event for BC Children's Hospital on May 7. The funds will support the development of a new CAUSES Clinic that uses genomic testing to diagnose rare genetic diseases in children more efficiently.
Waneta expansion celebrates grand opening & workers who made it happen
The Waneta Expansion Limited Partnership celebrated the grand opening of its $900 million, 335 MW hydroelectric expansion project near Trail, BC. The project was completed within budget and six weeks ahead of schedule, employing over 1,400 people and injecting over $300 million into the local economy. The expansion adds clean renewable power generation capacity by utilizing water that would otherwise be spilled from the existing Waneta Dam.
Morrison Mine must undergo further assessment
British Columbia ministers have ordered Pacific Booker Minerals' Morrison copper-gold mine to undergo additional environmental assessment before approval. The government cited concerns about mine design risks, insufficient baseline data on Morrison Lake's ecosystem, and potential impacts on sockeye salmon. The company has three years to provide additional studies addressing water treatment capacity, fish habitat, and alternative mine designs.
Rio Tinto re-opens modernized Kitimat aluminum smelter
Rio Tinto re-opened its modernized Kitimat aluminum smelter in July 2015 after a multi-billion dollar expansion and modernization program. The project increases aluminum production by up to 420,000 tonnes annually while reducing overall emissions by nearly 50 percent and securing 1,000 jobs for decades.
Skeena receives three-year exploration permit and mobilizes drills to Spectrum Gold Project
Skeena Resources has received a three-year drilling permit and is mobilizing two drills to its Spectrum high-grade gold project in northwestern BC's Golden Triangle. The company plans 10,000-12,000 meters of drilling in 50-60 holes starting July 2, aiming to expand the historic resource of 243,600 ounces at 12.3 g/t gold. A new 43-101 resource estimate is planned for fall 2015.
Forward thinking is key for Alloycorp Mining, Inc.
Alloycorp Mining is developing the $1-billion Avanti Kitsault molybdenum project in northern BC, aiming to be among the world's top four primary molybdenum producers. The company has implemented innovative technologies and secured a $300-million German financing guarantee, with production expected to begin in 2018.
B.C. Mine Rescue teams battle for top spot in Smithers
British Columbia held its 60th annual Mine Rescue and First Aid Competition in Smithers, with teams from Huckleberry Mines, Highland Valley Copper, and Elkview Mine taking top honors across various categories. The competition tests emergency response capabilities and maintains BC's world-class mining safety standards, with over 30,000 people employed in the province's mining sector in 2014.
New Nadina Explorations wins land issue appeal
New Nadina Explorations won a Court of Appeal case that allows the company to continue exploration work on its Silver Queen property in BC. The court rejected arguments from landowners who were trying to block access to land where New Nadina discovered a copper-molybdenum-gold porphyry system in 2011.
Site C dam project to break ground this summer
BC Hydro's Site C dam project on the Peace River in northeastern BC will begin construction in July 2015 after 11 years of planning. The $8.3 billion hydroelectric project faces legal challenges and permit delays but will take 9 years to build and generate enough power for 450,000 homes annually when completed in 2024.
Mt Polley could re-open by the end of June - 370 to return to work
BC's mines minister predicts the Mount Polley gold-copper mine could reopen by end of June, bringing 370 workers back after being closed since August due to a tailings dam collapse. Imperial Metals has spent nearly $70 million on cleanup and is awaiting final permit approval from the province.
LNG 101
FortisBC operates LNG facilities in British Columbia including the Tilbury plant in Delta (since 1970) and Mt. Hayes on Vancouver Island, storing 2.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas as backup supply. The company is planning expansion of the Tilbury facility to serve growing domestic LNG demand, particularly for transportation applications where LNG costs 50-60% less than diesel.