The Quintette coal mine near Tumbler Ridge will reopen after getting approval from the B.C. government this week, however the project is still subject to a final sanction decision by Teck.
The provincial government gave its approval and Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett says the Teck Resources facility is expected to employ more than 500 people.
Bennett said the reopening of the mine, which had operated between 1982 and 2000, required the partnership of six first nations in the area.
The open-pit mine is expected to produce steel-making coal for overseas markets.
Watch: History of the Quintette mine
Opening eight new mines is a key plank of Premier Christy Clark’s jobs strategy, the most important policy initiative she’s launched since becoming premier early this year.
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