Plans for a new coal mine in the Sukunka Valley, called the Rocky Creek Met Coal Project, have been progressing, according to an update provided to council by Judy Matkuluk, Manager of Regulatory Affairs and Peter Hang, Engagement Coordinator with CTI Plus Resources.
The planned coal mine would see three million tonnes of raw coal each year for the estimated ten year life of the mine, located nearly equidistance from Tumbler Ridge and Chetwynd.
In addition to a number of regulatory milestones and community outreach initiatives, CTI has conducted some exploration in the area in 2025, including drilling two groundwater holes, two geochemical bore holes, four sonic bore holes and a pair of test pits, all less than 100 m. Drilling was delayed due to fires in the summer then wet weather in the autumn. They also performed an Archeaological Impact Assessment on site.
Moving forward, they hope to have a draft Application Information requirements ready next year, with the hope of having a readiness decision in February of 2026.
When that comes back, it will either be permission to go ahead with the project, a hard no or—most likely—a request for more information and consultation.
Like the Brule Mine, they would need to haul the coal out to rail facilities in the Hassler Flats area. Indeed, says Matkuluk, they are curently in discussion with Conuma to see about sharing infrastructure, to avoid additional disturbances.
All told, says Matkuluk, the mine would employ 300 people directly, with about 250 spin off jobs.
She says the company has been working closely with First Nations. “When we did the submissions, we also asked the First Nations for their responses and comments back,” says Matkuluk. “We did recieve feedback from all the local First Nations, with the exception of Horse Lake, who said they would rely on what the West Moberly and Saulteau responses were.”
Matkuluk says after the initial project description, they recieved over 400 comments from both First Nations groups and the public that they needed to address, which they resubmitted in October.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
