COAL MINING – Hillsboro considers two new mines

BRITISH COLUMBIA - Strong foreign markets for thermal coal have Vancouvers HILLSBOROUGH RESOURCES contemplating two new coal mines.

The company is looking at the Wapiti project in the Peace River Coal Field in the northeast part of the province. With measured and indicated resources of 80 million tonnes and inferred resources of 35 million tonnes, the property has the makings of a mine. A 700,000- to 1.0 million-t/y open pit mine is being contemplated. Development of an underground mine at a later date could bring total production to 1.5 million tonnes of clean coal per year.

The second potential new mine is Quinsam North at the companys Quinsam coal mine in Campbell River. If a decision is made to develop this area, Hillsborough will be required to do additional design and feasibility work, apply for regulatory approval and purchase additional equipment. However, production could begin within a year at a rate of 500,000 to 700,000 t/y. The existing Quinsam mine already produces 520,000 tonnes of clean coal per year.

More information about Hillsborough and its mining operations is available at www.HillsboroughResources.com.