Chinese interests are looking at opening three new underground coal mines in B.C.’s northeast that domestic companies don’t have the expertise to operate, said Jobs Minister Pat Bell.
He said two Chinese coal companies and one steelmaker have plans to lease the mine sites near Tumbler Ridge from another Chinese mining firm already active in B.C.
The mines, as Bell understands them, “are very large projects, measured literally in hundreds of millions of dollars,” and could result in up to 6,000 direct and indirect jobs.