A company that wants to operate a coal mine in the Comox Valley near Baynes Sound announced Thursday that its president has resigned from the position.
John Tapics "has resigned as an officer of the company to pursue other opportunities," Compliance Energy Corporation said in a news release. "Mr. Tapics will continue on as an advisor and director and will aid in an orderly transition.
"The company would like to thank Mr. Tapics for his dedicated and professional service as president and CEO and wish him well in his future opportunities."
Stephen Ellis has been appointed president and chief operations officer and Grant Tanaka has been appointed chief financial officer.
Ellis has had an extensive coal mining career, spanning more than 30 years, in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand before joining Compliance in 2012, the company added. Ellis holds a first class mine manager’s certificate of competency in the United Kingdom and New Zealand with mutual recognition of these in
Australia.
“We are delighted that Stephen has accepted the role of president and COO and Grant the position of CFO,” stated chairman Jim O’Rourke. “We will be able to draw on their respective underground coal mining and financial and accounting experience as we advance the Raven Project.”
Last month, the provincial Environmental Assessment Office rejected Compliance's initial application for the Raven Underground Coal Project near Baynes Sound.
Compliance expects the mine would create about 350 full-time jobs and spinoff jobs. Estimates indicate the mine could operate 16 years.