How new approaches to coal mining revived a B.C. district – by Greg Klein (Resource Clips – September 21, 2018)

http://resourceclips.com/

Expertise, acumen and timing had a lot to do with it, but September 21 marks the second anniversary of a success story that strongly demonstrates mining’s intangible benefits. Two years ago Conuma Coal Resources re-opened its newly acquired Brule mine in northeastern British Columbia, then re-started two more open pits in the same region. While the advantages of resource industries often extend well beyond jobs and the economy, this is a company that actively pursues a mission in addition to profits.

But profitable Conuma is. It’s also the Peace River coal field’s only miner, following a 2014 downturn that closed the last of the district’s metallurgical fuel operations run by Walter Energy, Anglo American and Teck Resources.

After Walter entered bankruptcy proceedings the following year, something like 80 firms looked over the company’s Peace assets, with a proposal coming from a liquidator that would have dismantled the projects, says Conuma president Mark Bartkoski. He and a highly experienced group put together their privately-held company in summer 2016.

“Our team saw an opportunity to run Brule differently, to work with the community and First Nations a little more progressively and, from a technical standpoint, we felt there were a number of mining changes that would add value.

“One thing we tied to our offer was a commitment to hire 200 people in the first few months. That probably swung the deal, but we ended up hiring 400 in that first four-month period. We purchased the company on September 9 and had the first coal come out on the 21st.”

For the rest of this article: http://resourceclips.com/2018/09/21/community-spirit/