HD Mining International’s controversial Murray River coal mine, located about 12 kilometres south of Tumbler Ridge, received conditional environmental approval from the B.C. government Thursday. The mine would be one of the largest underground coal mines in Canada, and the first in the country to use the “longwall” mining method.
This does not mean the project will go ahead. HD has not yet made a final investment decision on the mine, but said that could come in 2016. The company expects to wrap up it’s “bulk sample” to be shipped to China for testing in June of that year.
It comes at an estimated cost of $668-million with an expected 25-year operating life. If the project goes ahead, the company estimates it will create 780 jobs once operational – good news for a region that has been decimated by the downfall in coal mining over the last few years.
Mike Carter – Alaska Highway News – October 1, 2015.
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discouraging to say the least