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Alberta to introduce ‘modern’ coal policy, including ban on new open-pit projects

Alberta to introduce ‘modern’ coal policy, including ban on new open-pit projects

“Our job now is to develop a policy that respects the natural areas of the foothills and protects water while enabling responsible coal development that can attract investment and create jobs,” he added.

The goal of the new Alberta Coal Industry Modernization Initiative (CIMI), which will be drafted for government approval later in 2025, is to protect Alberta’s waters from mining contaminants such as selenium, while setting standards for future coal mines around the world.

The CIMI will be based on the intent of the 1976 Coal Development Policy, building on the work done by the 2021 Coal Policy Committee, including responding to the committee’s recommendations.

CIMI “will build a long-term legislative and regulatory framework focused on protecting the environment while enabling coal mining under some of the strongest protections in the world,” the Energy Ministry said of Alberta.

He stressed that the new regulations “will remove temporary solutions and half-measures and provide the foundation for responsible coal mining for the 21st century.”

Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, said: “Alberta has one of the best environmental management systems in the world. We have strong and effective oversight and regulatory protections in place to protect our air, water and land and these safeguards will only be strengthened by this initiative.

To ensure fair compensation for the development of the province’s abundant coal resources, the Alberta government said it will also significantly increase royalty rates on new coal mines under the new initiative .

Alberta’s energy regulator is expected to begin the consultation process with the coal industry in early 2025 on the province’s plans to strengthen mining standards as well as new royalty amounts.

However, NDP leader Naheed Nenshi criticized the CIMI: call ad “a giant lump of coal just before Christmas.” “They released a plan to increase coal mining in Alberta, and they did so in a way that has very little economic benefit and very significant environmental risk,” Nenshi said. told reporters Friday.

The new policy will not affect those labeled “advanced coal projects,” such as the controversial Grassy Mountain mine near Crowsnest Pass, which has been opposed by environmental and community groups.

A spokesperson for Northback Holdings, the company behind the Grassy Mountain project, wrote to Radio-Canada that he looks forward to working with the province as it moves forward on policy updates.