An Australian company intends to develop a $700 million mine to supply coal for steelmaking in southwestern Alberta, Kallanish Energy reports.
The plans of Riversdale Resources and subsidiary, Benga Mining Ltd., are under review by federal and Alberta regulators.
On Aug. 16, federal and state regulators formed a joint three-member panel to review the coal mine plans. Decisions on the Grassy Mountain Coal Project could be released in early 2019. The facility would take 21 months to construct, the company said.
Production of metallurgical coal could begin in the first quarter of 2021, it said.
The open-pit mine is projected to produce 93 million tons during its 25-year lifespan, it said.
It would be located on 6,918 acres about four miles north of Blairmore in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta. The new mine would be located on a legacy coal-mining area.
It would be capable of producing up to 4 million tons of metallurgical coal (also known as coking coal) per year, the company said.
The mine would employ 385 full-time workers.
The coal would be shipped by rail for export from Vancouver for making steel in Asia and Europe.
Coal was previously mined in the Crowsnest pass area from about 1900 to 1957.
The project is being opposed by conservationists who fear the mine would threaten the westslope cutthroat trout, a threatened species, the Calgary Herald newspaper reported.
