Who regulates coal mines in Alberta?

Alberta coal. Coal mining in Alberta is regulated by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER).

What is the Alberta coal policy?

A Coal Development Policy for Alberta The policy divided the province into 4 categories which dictated where and how coal leasing, exploration and development could occur. National Parks, present or proposed Provincial Parks, Wilderness Areas, Designated Recreation Areas, Wildlife Sanctuaries, etc.

What is the 1976 Alberta coal policy?

The 1976 Coal Policy reflected the premise that some lands were better suited for economic and energy development initiatives. No mountaintop removal will be permitted and all of the restrictions under the 1976 coal categories are to apply, including all restrictions on surface mining in Category 2 lands.

What is the Coal Mining Act?

Under the Act, Coal Services exercises a number of key statutory functions. These include the provision of critical services to the NSW coal mining industry across the areas of occupational health and rehabilitation, workers compensation, collection of statistics, and mines rescue emergency services and training.

Does Alberta still use coal?

Two types of coal are mined in Alberta: thermal and metallurgical. Thermal coal is burned to run steam turbines for generating electricity. It is also used to heat homes. Coal-fired electricity generation in Alberta will be phased out by 2030.

Which province exports the most coal?

Canada produced 57 megatonnes of coal in 2019. Production by province is as follows: British Columbia 48%, Alberta 35%, Saskatchewan 16%, and Nova Scotia at 1%.

What is the difference between thermal and metallurgical coal?

Metallurgical coal (or “coking coal”) is mined to produce the carbon used in steelmaking, while thermal coal is used to make steam that generates electricity.

What industries use coal?

Coal is used for many applications, from producing heat for households to firing industrial boilers and generators to manufacturing cast iron and synthetic fuel. Depending on its quality, coal can be burnt, transformed into coke or gasified.

What are the different types of coals?

Coal is classified into four main types, or ranks: anthracite, bituminous, subbituminous, and lignite. The ranking depends on the types and amounts of carbon the coal contains and on the amount of heat energy the coal can produce.

How safe is coal mining?

Coal mining is the most hazardous, at about seven times the national rate. The primary causes of the fatalities in underground mines are falls of ground, powered haulage, explosions machinery and electrical, accounting for about 90% of all fatalities.

What is the purpose of the coal mine Safety Act?

The Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 establishes the overall legislative framework for the safety and health of persons at coal mines with the following primary aims to: • protect the safety and health of persons at coal mines and persons who may be affected by coal mining operations; • require that the risk of …

Does Alberta buy electricity from Montana?

In Alberta, electricity is supplied by a variety of generators that are powered by coal, natural gas, wind, hydro, and biomass, and the supply is supplemented by imported power from British Columbia, Montana, United States, and Saskatchewan.