Compliance Coal has no intention of exploring its Bear Coal or Anderson Lake deposits near Comox Lake, even if government grants the green light to the Raven underground coal mine proposal near Baynes Sound, says a company official.
in 2007, Compliance applied for a licence to explore about 1,672 hectares of undersurface coal resources near Anderson Lake above Forbidden Plateau north of Comox Lake. It also holds a 60-per-cent interest in the Bear Coal Deposit south of Comox Lake.
"We have no plans to explore these licence areas, even if the licences are granted," Compliance vice-president of operations Stephen Ellis said Thursday.
The reason basically concerns the world coal price, added the Courtenay-based Ellis.
"We'll develop the Raven and that'll be great. It's a big enough challenge."
Even if a company holds a licence, it is required to undergo the entire application process for another claim.
"You can't piggyback on the back of another application," Ellis said. "Would we want to take that on again?"
The Anderson Lake application has been held in abeyance by government since it was filed in 2007, Ellis explained.
Last week, the Comox Valley Regional District committee of the whole approved letters to the chief inspector of mines to inform terms and conditions of requested coal licences submitted by Compliance and Hillsborough Resources Ltd. The latter is looking to explore nearly 3,000 hectares, mostly in the Strathcona Regional District.
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com