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Canadian miner Teck's Elk Valley clean up might cost a minimum of C$ 6.4 bln, environment group states

The expense of cleaning British Columbia's (B.C.) Elk Valley river from the hazardous materials launched by Teck Resources' coal mining might be at least C$ 6.4 billion ($ 4.7 billion), a report launched by notforprofit group Wildsight on Tuesday said.

Selenium, a naturally occurring component that is hazardous to fish in high concentrations, has actually been seeping for years from the stacks of waste rock surrounding Canadian miner Teck's coal mines. The coal is utilized for making steel.

Teck has reserved a bond of C$ 1.9 billion towards Elk Valley operations, in line with the B.C. government's. requirement for miners to spend for any future damage arising from. their work.

But the report commissioned by Vancouver-based Wildsight. found the amount reserved by Teck was insufficient and. underplayed the problem triggered by selenium contamination.

In an e-mail action to , Teck said Wildsight's. quotes were incorrect and irregular with estimations. made under B.C. federal government policy.

Their provisions with respect to capital spend do not align. with B.C. government policy and their use of simplified. presumptions overstate ongoing water treatment operating expense. alone by 50-60%. stated Dale Steeves, director of stakeholder. relations, Teck Resources.

The report, finished by speaking with firm Citizen. Environmental Ltd, said it reached the C$ 6.5 billion figure by. computing what it would cost to carry out Teck's existing plan. of constructing water treatment plants to 2027 and run them for. 60 years.

Teck has actually spent more than C$ 1.4 billion because 2014 to deal with. the selenium concentration and it prepares to further invest $150. million to $250 million by the end of 2024.

Last year, Teck offered its coal service to a consortium led. by Swiss miner Glencore for $9 billion, as the Canadian. miner shifts its focus to critical metals such as copper. The. deal is awaiting Canadian government approval.

Glencore plans to spin-off the coal mines into a separately. noted company following closure of the deal. In February this. year Gary Nagle, CEO of Glencore had stated the spin off will be. subject to its investors decision.

Glencore did not discuss the report.

We hope that both Glencore and the Canadian government will. pay attention to this report as they think about the sale, to. make sure accountability for the selenium crisis is preserved. throughout the transfer of ownership, stated Simon Wiebe, mining. policy and impacts researcher at Wildsight.

Shares of Teck Resources were trading at C$ 59.5, down by 1%. at the Toronto Stock Exchange.

(source: Reuters)