A Calgary-based private company is proposing a new metallurgical coal mine near Chetwynd.
CTI Plus Resources has filed an initial project description for the proposed Rocky Creek metallurgical coal mine project with the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO).
CTI proposes a mine that would have an average production of 1.75 million tonnes of coal annually, with a total mine life of 14 years.
The proposed mine is located 47 kilometres south of Chetwynd and is south of an existing coal mine – Conuma Coal’s Brule mine.
The mine would be developed in two separate areas, with the Northwest (NW) block being mined in six open pits over 11 years, and the southeast (SE) block having a single open pit mined over four years.
The mine site is in Treaty 8 territory, and overlaps with a number of other resource licences, including a tree farm licence, oil and gas right-of-way, and wind farm investigative licence.
The initial project description does not provide estimates of the capital costs of the project or how many people would be employed during its construction and operation. The project description states only that the mine would have a two-year-construction period, and 14-year operating life. The company's chief financial officer told BIV News that she could not disclose the project's capital costs.
The mine would require access roads, 32 kilometres of transmission line and new substation, and a rail load-out, which would be located located on Highway 97 near Hasler Flats. Coal would be transported by truck and then rail, and exported either through the ports of Vancouver or Prince Rupert.
According to the project description, BP Exploration Canada conducted initial exploration in the area in the 1940s and 1960s. CTI Plus acquired coal licences in 2019, and undertook exploratory drilling in 2020.
CTI Plus is a private company, whose principals are chief executive officer Quan Li, chief financial officer Lyshier Ren, chief operation officer Yulin Li and director Kim Deng.
Now that a project description has been filed with the EAO, early engagement will begin and a 30-day public comment period will soon be scheduled.
