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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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BC put $5 million into Geoscience BC for informed land-use decisions & mineral & energy exploration
The BC government announced $5 million in funding for Geoscience BC to support mineral and energy exploration investment and informed land-use decisions. This brings total provincial funding to over $30 million since 2005. The funding will support ongoing projects including TREK in the Interior Plateau and the Peace Project water resource management initiative in northeast BC's natural gas region.
Woodfibre LNG is breaking environmental ground
Woodfibre LNG is advancing its 2.1 million tonne annual LNG export facility in Squamish, BC, with environmental assessment completion expected by July. The project features an innovative environmental platform including 80% lower greenhouse gas emissions and extensive site remediation of a 100-year-old industrial site.
Surrey’s Sonic Drill Corp wins technology development award
Ray Roussy, president of Surrey-based Sonic Drill Corporation, received a technology development award from the International Mining Technology Hall of Fame for his work developing and commercializing sonic drilling technology. The recognition comes after nearly four decades of R&D and represents significant advancement in mineral exploration drilling capabilities.
Teck announces temporary shutdowns of Elk Valley Mines—staggered over summer
Teck Resources announced temporary three-week shutdowns at its six Canadian steelmaking coal operations during Q3 2015 to align production with weak market conditions. The shutdowns will reduce quarterly production by 1.5 million tonnes (22%) to 5.7 Mt, while the company maintains its cost reduction focus and contractual commitments.
WD makes $715K investment for responsible resource development
Western Economic Diversification Canada announced a $715,000 investment in Genome BC to advance genomics technologies for responsible resource development. The funding will help Western Canadian natural resource companies develop new genomics-based products and services to improve competitiveness and access international markets.
Murray Edwards’ Edco Capital loans Imperial Metals $30 million
Imperial Metals secured a $30 million unsecured loan from Edco Capital (owned by Murray Edwards) at 12% annual interest to support Red Chris mine production ramp-up. The company also approved an $80 million rights offering to repay the loan and fund Red Chris operations plus Mount Polley mine restart.
Greenhills wins Canadian mine safety award
Teck Coal's Greenhills Operations in Elkford, B.C. received the John T. Ryan Safety Trophy for coal mines at the CIM Awards Gala. The award recognizes exemplary safety accomplishments in the mining industry and was presented as part of the annual CIM Convention in Montreal.
Amarc Resources announces “significant” BC discovery
Amarc Resources announced a significant copper-molybdenum-silver porphyry discovery at its IKE project in British Columbia, with drilling results including 247 metres of 0.42% copper equivalent. The mineralization extends over 1,200m by 600m and remains open in all directions, with the company planning an expanded 50-hole drill program for 2015.
Kimberley’s SunMine to light up in June 2015
The City of Kimberley, B.C. is set to launch Western Canada's largest solar farm, the SunMine, in June 2015. The $2 million project features 4,032 advanced solar panels that can track the sun and adjust for weather conditions, generating 1.048 megawatts of electricity. The innovative project will provide the community with approximately $57,800 in annual net revenue over 25 years.
Taseko announces improved economics at its Gibraltar Copper Mine
Taseko Mines has completed an updated mine plan for its Gibraltar Copper Mine that significantly improves economics through a 50% reduction in strip ratio from 4.3:1 to 1.9:1. The new plan features 749 million tons grading 0.272% copper equivalent with 24 years of operation producing 138 million pounds of copper annually. The company estimates the mine could generate approximately $100 million in annual operating profit at current metal prices.
APEGBC professional practice guidelines respond to Mount Polley recommendations
APEGBC is developing new professional practice guidelines for dam site characterization assessments in response to the Mount Polley tailings dam breach report. The guidelines will establish standards of care and professional obligations for engineers and geoscientists, scheduled for release in March 2016.
Fortune Minerals and POSCAN complete sale of Arctos coal licenses to BC Rail
Fortune Minerals Limited and POSCO Canada Limited have completed the sale of Arctos coal licenses to BC Rail. The transaction involved an agreement with the British Columbia Government, though specific financial terms were not disclosed.
Dave Coles joins Advisory Board of Pacific Future Energy
Pacific Future Energy Corporation announced that Dave Coles, President Emeritus of Unifor, has joined its advisory board. Coles brings extensive experience from the Alberta energy industry to help advance PFEC's planned refinery project on the BC coast. The company aims to build what it calls the world's greenest oil refinery in partnership with First Nations to process Canadian bitumen for Asian markets.
Study documents impacts of tailings impoundment spill on Quesnel Lake
University of Northern BC researchers published a comprehensive study documenting the impacts of the August 2014 Mount Polley tailings dam breach on Quesnel Lake. The research found significant environmental changes including a 7.7cm lake level rise, elevated temperatures, widespread sediment plumes covering 1,000 square kilometers, and copper concentrations above freshwater ecosystem guidelines.
Student engineering team wins provincial competition
Five UNBC environmental engineering students won the BC Water & Waste Association Student Design Competition by developing a biogas production solution for Kelowna's wastewater treatment plant. Their design would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% while producing energy and recovering nutrients for fertilizer.
Project Heavy Duty returns to the Elk Valley
Project Heavy Duty returned for its third year in the Elk Valley, providing 24 grade 11-12 students with hands-on heavy equipment training from May 12-13. The program is a partnership between Southeast School District #5, College of the Rockies, and local heavy industry including Teck Coal, aimed at developing skilled trades workers for the mining sector.
Mount Polley could restart “within months,” says Imperial Metals
Imperial Metals announced that Mount Polley gold-copper mine could restart within months if granted a permit, potentially bringing back about half of the mine's 370 employees. The mine has been closed following a devastating tailings pond breach that caused an environmental disaster in central BC.
First concentrate shipment from Red Chris Mine
Imperial Metals achieved a major milestone with the first shipment of copper concentrate from its Red Chris mine in northwest British Columbia on April 11, 2015. The concentrate was loaded onto the new vessel M/V Edward Oldendorff at Stewart Bulk Terminals, marking both the mine's inaugural shipment and the ship's maiden voyage.
American Creek wins decisively at BC Court of Appeal
American Creek Resources won a decisive unanimous victory at the BC Court of Appeal, confirming its 51% controlling interest in the Treaty Creek gold-copper property. The court dismissed Teuton Resources' appeal entirely and upheld special costs awards against Teuton for reprehensible conduct during litigation.
Mine rescue teams to compete in Elkford
The 94th East Kootenay Zone Surface Mine Rescue and First Aid Competition will be held in Elkford on May 9, 2015, featuring emergency response teams from all five Elk Valley coal mining operations. The event includes five skill challenges, with winning teams advancing to provincial and national competitions.
NovaCopper agrees to acquire Sunward through court arrangement
NovaCopper agreed to acquire Sunward Resources through a court-approved arrangement valued at approximately US$27.6 million, creating a combined company with US$23 million in cash. The merger will advance the Arctic and Bornite copper-zinc deposits in Alaska's Ambler mining district, with plans for a US$8-10 million field program this summer.
College of the Rockies’ residence going solar
College of the Rockies has installed a solar heating system at its main campus residence building, using two types of solar technology to heat water and reduce natural gas costs. The project serves as both an energy efficiency measure and an educational opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience with renewable energy systems.
Royal Dutch Shell buys UK BG Group in $70B deal - is big player in Canada
Royal Dutch Shell agreed to acquire British gas producer BG Group for $69.7 billion in cash and stock, strengthening its position in global LNG markets. The deal will boost Shell's oil and gas reserves by 25% and production by 20%, while enhancing its Canadian operations including the LNG Canada terminal project in Kitimat, B.C.
$50,000 donation from Spectra Energy means better burn and wound healing care
Natural gas company Spectra Energy donated $50,000 to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation to support burn and wound healing research. The donation funded the purchase of a High Performance Liquid Chromatography machine for Dr. Aziz Ghahary's research laboratory. This brings Spectra's total support to over $200,000 over four years for this medical research area.