Peace River Coal operations being sold to Conuma Resources

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — Peace River Coal (PRC) operations are changing owners from a company based out of London, England, to one headquartered in Tumbler Ridge.

In a letter to Dawson Creek council dated September 20th, Anglo American announced that it has agreed to sell the operation – its only Canadian coal asset – to Conuma Resources.

“We are delighted to agree [to] the sale of Peace River Coal and hope to see the asset return to production under Conuma’s ownership, having been on care and maintenance since 2014,” the letter reads. 

“The high-quality steelmaking coal tenures at Peace River Coal will be added to Conuma’s established 5 million tonne production capacity in British Columbia, helping ensure the asset is set up for a sustainable future for the benefit of our First Nations partners and all our stakeholders.”

The letter also states that this isn’t the first collaboration between Anglo American and Conuma.

“We are particularly proud that Anglo American and Conuma have also been working together, in consultation with First Nations partners and local communities, to develop a Caribou Recovery Project, which involves relinquishing PRC tenure land for the protection of caribou habitat,” it reads.

“Anglo American will continue to work with Conuma, the Government of British Columbia and First Nations partners on this truly innovative environmental management programme, in line with Anglo American’s commitment to helping ensure a lasting and positive legacy.”

According to Anglo American, the sale is still conditional on “customary closing conditions” like regulatory approval.