Mining Intelligence and News
Canada

Highvale Mine

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Categories

Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StatusClosing / Closed
Commodities
  • Coal (thermal)
Mining Method
  • Dragline
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start... Lock
SnapshotThe Highvale Mine was the largest sub-bituminous, surface coal mine in Canada.

Active coal mining at TransAlta’s Highvale Mine ceased at the end of December 2021 with the end of coal-fired generation at the Keephills and Sundance power plants. Operations at the Highvale Mine shifted to full-time reclamation in January 2022 with plans to have the Highvale Mine fully reclaimed by 2046.

TransAlta submitted under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (“EPEA”) a combined Decommissioning Plan and Final Reclamation Plan for the Highvale Mine to the Alberta Energy Regulator (“AER”). At the same time, TransAlta filed a 10-year Renewal for the Highvale Mine under EPEA, the Water Act and the Coal Conservation Act in June 2022.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
TransAlta Corp. 100 % Indirect
SunHills Mining LP (operator) 100 % Direct
SunHills Mining LP, a wholly owned subsidiary of TransAlta, assumed operation and management control of the Highvale Mine in 2013.

Deposit type

  • Sedimentary

Summary:

Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

Summary:

Approximately 13 million tonnes of low­ sulphur content thermal ­grade coal are mined at Highvale each year and delivered to TransAlta’s Sundance and Keephills thermal generating plants. The Keephills 3 thermal plant began commercial operations in 2011 requiring an additional 1.8 million tonnes each year.

Production

CommodityUnits2018
Coal (thermal) Mt 8 *
* Production numbers were reported as 'Average annual'

Operational metrics

Metrics2015
Annual mining capacity 13 Mt of ROM coal

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Heavy Mobile Equipment

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Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 10, 2024

Aerial view:

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