Teck Resources Ltd. (TSX:TCK) is investing roughly $900,000 in a new treatment process being developed by Vancouver clean-tech company BioteQ Environmental Technologies Inc. (TSX:BQE) to remove selenium from mine effluent.
Under the agreement, BioteQ will pilot test its new Selen-IX treatment process. BioteQ will retain ownership of the plant and intellectual rights. The plant, which will be built at Teck's Fording River Operations in British Columbia's Elk Valley, is expected to be completed by late 2013.
"BioteQ is very pleased to be moving its Selen-IX technology from lab scale to the pilot plant stage," said BioteQ CEO Jonathan Wilkinson.
"The continuing development and deployment of this novel technology leverages BioteQ's existing technology platforms and capabilities. Selenium removal represents an expansion to our existing product portfolio and opens up new, significant market opportunities for the company."
Selenium, a byproduct of coal mining, is critical to human and animal diets, but can be toxic at higher concentrations.
