Elan is an exploration and development company with interests in steelmaking coal.
We are committed to land stewardship, minimizing our environmental footprint, and returning the land to a state that will support diverse uses for many generations to come.
Steel is an essential component of our society, and the Elan project is being proposed to supply steelmaking coal to global markets.
Alberta is home to a competitive, sustainable and responsible resource industry that benefits all Canadians. With a clear and demanding regulatory environment, Alberta is a global leader in natural resource development, environmental protection, innovative technology solutions, and world-class management.
We welcome stakeholder involvement in our planning, with a view to developing a project can responsibly and ethically support the global demand for steel.
Our Vision for Reclamation
Our mine planning starts with a view to the end land use in mind. We welcome comments on final landform, re-vegetation and re-forestation so that we can plan for a final, multi-use area that will meet the future needs of the entire community.
Our approach is similar to that of other resource projects, such as forestry, where the intermediate reclamation steps will take a little time to take hold before the natural landscape can be enjoyed as it was prior to our activity.
Our initial vision for reclamation involves re-contouring to ensure similar topography, forage vegetation to support wildlife and cattle grazing, reforestation that includes stands of sensitive species such as White Bark and Limber pines, and a wetland or lake that would support aquatic life.
FAQ
Answering Albertans’ Tough Questions
Default (do not remove)
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
IF THE WORLD IS MOVING TO NET-ZERO OR GREEN TECHNOLOGIES WHY ARE WE STILL TALKING ABOUT EXTRACTING FOSSIL FUELS
Steel is a major component of our everyday lives. Steel is used to build homes and schools, fridges and cookware, cars and buses, sports equipment and computers, to list only a few of its many uses. Steel is also used to build renewable or net-zero products such as wind turbines, frames for solar panels, electric and low emission vehicles. When steel is produced most efficiently, the process uses metallurgical coal. Other technologies cannot yet provide the quantities of steel needed by Canada and other nations each and everyday.
WHAT WILL BE LEFT BEHIND WHEN THE MINING IS DONE
Mine planning is conducted with the end of mine life in mind. Restoring as we work across the site, the footprint we leave behind will not look out of place with the surrounding natural landscape. As a responsible mineral developer, our planning starts with the return of the proposed mine site to a natural habitat that supports sustainable, multi-generational land use.
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, FISHERS, AND RANCHERS ARE CONCERNED THAT COAL MINING RELEASES HARMFUL SELENIUM INTO THE WATERSHED; DAMAGING THE DRINKING AND IRRIGATION WATER SUPPLY ACROSS SOUTHERN ALBERTA
We take the conservation of natural water sources very seriously. Our project design and operations prioritize maintaining selenium and nitrates at their natural levels in water sources. Our plans have never called for any release of untreated water, and through the life of our proposed project we will work closely with regulators to ensure that any discharge of treated water meets the stringent parameters established by both provincial and federal authorities.
WILL MINING PROJECTS DIVERT WATER AWAY FROM MUNICIPALITIES AND FARMERS
Water allocations within the Oldman River have not changed nor will they change due to mining projects. Alberta Environment and Parks has been very clear that no new water allocations are possible, and any water sourced through existing allocations will continue to be subject to instream flow objectives set by the province. Our plans for the Elan project will carefully follow provincial guidelines, which will ensure that water flows always meet the provincial requirements to ensure availability for existing users.
WHY SHOULD WE TRUST A MINING COMPANY FROM AUSTRALIA?
We are part of Alberta and our employees live and raise families here. In all our projects we are committed to conservational stewardship and minimizing our environmental footprint. Incorporating stakeholder and Indigenous knowledge in all phases of the mining life cycle is central to our projects. Our approach is reinforced by sustained, open and transparent communication with stakeholders and government to uphold the highest standards in our industry.
Project Development Phases
We are here
Exploration and Development
Learn More
The start to any mining project begins with exploration. Geoscientists explore potential mineral deposits with methods that include surface mapping, drilling, sampling, and geophysical measurements to prove if a deposit and eventual mine will be economic and viable.
Development involves engineering studies to understand
- if a deposit is viable;
- how a deposit can be mined and processed;
- how land is to be rehabilitated; and
- water management practices to ensure any water that comes into contact with mining activities is captured and treated prior to re-use or release
This process can take 5+ years.
Environmental Assessment
Learn More
An Environmental Assessment is a key regulatory requirement for major projects. In the case of Elan project, a joint Provincial-Federal assessment will be completed to determine the potential for direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects on air, land, water, wildlife, fisheries, and socio-economic effects on local communities.
This process can take 3+ years, depending on collection of baseline environmental data.
We have been collecting environmental data since 2018 to support a more timely submission of the Environmental Assessment and regulatory applications.
Regulatory Applications
Learn More
Permitting of a coal mine in Alberta will involve submissions to both provincial and federal authorities.
Federal submissions are captured under the Impact Assessment Act and will require the submission of a detailed Impact Statement. Provincial submissions involve comparable environmental assessments as well as various applications for approvals under the Coal Conservation Act, Water Act, the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act and the Public Lands Act.
It is expected that the Impact Assessment process review process will be conducted by a Joint Review Panel involving both provincial and federal regulators.
Additional approvals may be required depending on the final configuration of the Project. These include electrical power and natural gas interconnections issued by the Alberta Utilities Commission and the AER, respectively.
This process can take 3+ years.
Throughout our various project phases we remain committed to open and transparent communications with all stakeholders to ensure a responsible development. We welcome stakeholder feedback and will always seek opportunities include community suggestions into our project planning.