VANCOUVER (miningweekly.com) – Canadian diversified miner Teck Resources said on Thursday that a "significant pressure event" that had interrupted operations in the coal dryer at its Elkview mine, in British Columbia, will cost the company about 200 000 t of coal output this year.
The Vancouver-based miner has informed the market that a preliminary damage assessment has determined that repairs to the dryer may take four to six weeks.
In the interim, Elkview is producing higher-moisture steelmaking coals at about 80% of planned output levels.
In order to manage the overall moisture level of its product, Teck is coordinating production with its other operations in the Elk Valley, and blending the higher-moisture coal with dry finished coal inventory and dry coal from other operations to the extent possible.
Costs of repair to the dryer are expected to range between C$5-million and C$10-million.