Top active mines in British Columbia

Teck Resources owns the bulk of B.C.’s active mines. — Photo courtesy Teck

With its wealth of natural resources, British Columbia has hosted a number of mining operations, with the provincial industry being worth over $5.6 billion. These are some of the most productive active mines in B.C.

Location: Sparwood, B.C.
Owner: Teck (95%), Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (2.5%) and POSCO (2.5%)
Annual production: 70 million tonnes of coal

Located three kilometres east of Sparwood, the Elkview mine produces steelmaking coal—also called metallurgical coal or coking coal.

Location: 30 kilometres southeast of Sparwood, B.C.
Owner: Teck
Annual production: N/A

Although there was no steelmaking coal production planned for Coal Mountain Operations in 2019, the operation ended up producing 30,000 tonnes in the first quarter alone. There will be an anticipated total of approximately 50,000 tonnes prior to closure in the second quarter of 2019.

Location: 29 kilometres northeast of Elkford, B.C.
Owner: Teck
Annual production: 9 million tonnes of coal

Projected to continue for another 43 years, the Fording River operation is one of five steelmaking coal mines run by Teck Resources in the Elk Valley.

Location: Eight kilometres northeast of Elkford, B.C.
Owner: Teck (80%), POSCO Canada Limited (POSCAN) and POSCO (20%)
Annual production: 5.9 million tonnes of coal

Another steel-making coal mine, Greenhills Operations will be up and running for another 28 years at its expected capacity.

Location: 17 kilometres west of Logan Lake, B.C.
Owner: Teck
Annual production: 150,000 tonnes of copper

The Highland Valley Copper Mine produces molybdenum and copper concentrates through autogenous and semi-autogenous grinding and flotation.

Location: 25 kilometres north of Sparwood, B.C.
Owner: Teck
Annual production: 4 million tonnes of coal

Teck’s Line Creek Mine also specializes in steelmaking coal, with proven and probable reserves that should keep the operation active for another 18 years.

Location: Kamloops, B.C.
Owner: New Gold
Annual production: 77,000 ounces of gold, approximately 38,500 tonnes of copper

The New Afton Mine produces both copper and gold, and includes an open pit, underground workings, historic support facilities, and a new concentrator and tailings facility.

Location: Campbell River, B.C.
Owner: Quinsam Coal Corporation
Annual production: 50,000 tonnes of thermal coal

After a closure lasting several months, the Quinsam operation was reopened in 2017. It produces thermal coal via an underground mine.