Overview
| Stage | Production |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Mine Life | 2026 |
Westmoreland announced the impending closure of Paintearth and Sheerness Mines on Jan. 13 2021. In a joint statement with Heartland Generation, Westmoreland said that with the pending transition from coal to natural gas conversion at the power plant, Westmoreland would have no choice but to close. |
Source:
p. 10, 13
Currently Sheerness mine is owned by Prairie Mines & Royalty ULC. Westmoreland Mining LLC conducts its Canadian coal operations through Prairie Mines & Royalty ULC.
Summary:
The Sheerness Mine is a 7,000 Ha. surface strip mine located in South Central Alberta south of the Town of Hanna. The mine operates two active pits and supplies sub-bituminous coal to the two generating units at the Sheerness Generating Station which is owned by TransAlta Utilities and ATCO Power and operated by ATCO Power. The mine has been supplying coal to the station since 1984.
Coal is uncovered using the two draglines (1 – BE 1300; 1 – Page 736). Current annual production of the mine is 3.3 million tonnes.
Summary:
The exposed coal is hauled directly from the mine to the generating station.
Production:
| Commodity | Units | 2020 | 2019 * | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|
Coal (thermal)
|
Mt
| ......  | ...... | 3.2 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 2.2 |
| Heat Content | BTU/lb | | | 7,088 | 7,013 | 7,249 | 7,228 |
| Sulfur | % | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.54 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
All production numbers are expressed as ROM coal.
* Average annual production reported in 2019
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Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|
Annual mining capacity
| 4,000 k tons of ROM coal | 3,638 k tons of ROM coal | 3,638 k tons of ROM coal | 3,700 k tons of ROM coal |
Reserves at December 31, 2017:
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity |
|
Proven
|
16,759 k tons
|
Coal (thermal)
|
|
Probable
|
3,021 k tons
|
Coal (thermal)
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
19,780 k tons
|
Coal (thermal)
|
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Aerial view:
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