Northern B.C. coal mine comes back to life after 24 years

After 24 years, a steel-making coal mine in northeastern B.C. has roared back to life. 

Last week, Conuma Resources received permits from the province giving it the green light to restart operations at a portion of the Quintette Mine, located 20 kilometres south of Tumbler Ridge. 

"We were very excited to receive it," said Conuma Resources CEO Brian Sullivan. "We're going to spend upwards of $500 million bringing it back into production. It will have a permanent workforce of more than 400 permanent good paying jobs." 

Sullivan said the mine will also indirectly boost local jobs and businesses, becoming an economic engine for the South Peace region. 

It is a significant milestone for Tumbler Ridge — a planned community built in 1981 specifically to support the coal industry. 

Quintette opened in 1982 and operated for 18 years until previous owner Teck Resources closed the mine in 2000 because of a decline in coal prices. 

Teck then put the mine into "care and maintenance" and it lay dormant for 24 years until it sold the site to Conuma Resources for $120 million in February 2023. 

Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka said he moved to the district 18 years ago, but knows many residents who worked at Quintette. 

"To see the excitement and know the people who have been here for way longer than I have, get to see that operation come back online. I think it's huge. It's huge for people's morale." 

Sullivan said he hopes a new wave of residents will now make their home in Tumbler Ridge, which once had a projected population growth of 10,000, but currently has a population of just over 2,000. 

"I hope the people that are just coming to work at Quintette can retire here.  A lot of the folks who are in town who worked at Quintette for 20 years are celebrating with us that Quintette has kind of roared back to life." 

Sullivan said the company will need further permits before the entirety of Quintette is running at full capacity, but the mine has already begun hauling coal.

Once the coal is mined, it will be sent to Prince Rupert, B.C., by rail and then sent to steel makers around the world. 

"It's something that the rest of the world will continue to need as long as steel is being made," said Sullivan. 

In a statement sent to CBC News, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation Josie Osborne said steel-making coal is critical for building a range of infrastructure, including public transit, hospitals and wind turbines.

"The mining and mineral exploration sector is a foundational part of British Columbia's economy, providing more than 40,000 good, family-supporting jobs — and we're supporting it to grow," Osborne said.

"This restart is exceptional news for the community of Tumbler Ridge and the 400 workers the mine will employ."

Osborne added that B.C.'s mining sector is "poised for significant growth."

"Since 2017, total employment has increased by 10 per cent, private sector investment has doubled and mineral export value has increased to around $17 billion in 2023.

"We have the minerals and resources that B.C. and the world needs for a growing economy."