RE: RE: Stategies of a Losing Side dusty:
"Chrisale you are the one who is misinformed, there is very little opposition to the Raven project . I live in the Comox Valley and have lived here for over 50 years and most people are in favor of the project and the jobs it will produce. Unfortunately with any project it is always the few objectors who make all the noise while those in favor for the most part are quiet and just wait for the process to happen, the same can be said for the controversy over The Gas And Go on the Dyke Road. I am of the opinion that the mine will go through but only if it gets passed before the next provincial election. There has been info put out there that the Indian band is against this development but I have not seen anything to the contrary. One could always contact Ernie Hardy and find out for sure, as he is the elected chief of the Comox Band."
I'm in Port Alberni, not the Comox Valley, so I can only speak for people here. Their main concern is the trucking. I've talked to many people both for and against the mine and they are all extremely concerned about the trucking. The Chamber of Commerce, City, Regional District, businesses and individuals have all expressed the same concern. It is a fact, and Compliance is doing nothing to allay those fears.
There were hundreds of people at all of the open houses in all of the communities. I've lived in this Valley all my life as well and have never seen opposition like that to any project. I haven't seen Island-wide opposition to something like this since Clayoquot.
kelrsten:
"As I read your post filled with facts as you call them, I'm left wondering where are these facts?"
Probably because the facts have been buried under the inane chatter courtesy of 2guys. Which I'm sure is part of the strategy.
Here are the facts behind my opinions:
#1: On the mine producing 100% thermal:
From the Feasibility Study Press Release
Raven coal can be processed to a final product specification of 10 percent ash (dry basis) and approximately 1.2 percent sulphur and is suitable for the metallurgical coal market. Alternatively, all of the Raven washed product could be marketed as a high-quality thermal coal with average product specifications of 7,000 kcal/kg and 15 percent ash on a dry basis. Given this, the process plant has been designed with the flexibility to produce metallurgical coal, with a thermal middlings coal by-product or alternatively a high-quality thermal coal.
So the fact is that the company is planning to produce 100% thermal if they feel market conditions warrant it. Those market conditions being a narrowed gap between SemiSoft Coking and High Grade Thermal coal Given the much-depressed price of coal since even this feasibility study, let alone the astronomical prices that gave rise to the proposal in the first place, that can only mean that the alternative scenario is coming much closer to being a reality.
Note this was also included in the May 2011 Project Description from the BC EAO site:
"Alternatively, all of the Raven washed product could be marketed as high-quality thermal coal, if desired (PAH 2010) "
"Depending on future market demands, all of the washed coal product could be marketed as a high quality thermal coal. (PAH 2010). "
I particularly appreciate this quote:
"The proposed Raven Project is fairly sensitive to price, with moderate sensitivity to operating costs; of the parameters evaluated, the proposed Raven Project is least sensitive to capital. "
This means that any time you hear the Raven project waiver on providing some relief to taxpayer costs on infrastructure, or changes to mine construction or port facilities it's mostly self serving. Their own reports indicate they can outlay far more capital than they are planning right now. But they aren't.
#2: Relating to that last point. The Raven project could therefore easily afford to pitch in to fix the railroad and even build the 5km spur from the mainline to the mine site. All the talk about them only supporting rail if it is "economically viable" or "is available" should be put into perspective.
The FACT is that trucking is far less efficient. I've run the numbers extensively here.
The FACT is that the railway, according to reports from just this past Monday council meeting, is that the rail operator has spent $150,000 on its proposals to get the coal contract.
The FACT, according to BC MOT studies, is that the Raven coal trucks would raise truck activity on the local highway by 15% overnight. This on a road that is already congested in summer, and dangerous and often closed due to weather related accidents in winter.
#3: Facts on Future Mines: While the Company insists it is all perfectly seperate and unrelated, the fact remains that in their initial project descriptions (availble on the EA website) they indicated the possiblity that once Raven was operational they would then consider opening two open pit mines just a little North of Raven known as the Bear project. They have indicated that the Raven infrastructure would be used to process coal from those mines. So regardless of whether it happens now or in the future, this mine is the beginning of something much larger. They have never said how much Bear would produce given that it is an open pit versus an underground mine, production rates should be higher and the environmental and transport impacts will be much higher as well.
Those are just some of the facts. And we haven't even gotten into the shellfish jobs that are in jeopardy. Nor have we got into the debate about Chinese miners. I listened to Premier Christy Clark say on CKNW radio yesterday that there aren't enough underground coal miners in BC because 'there are no mines yet' and that we can't expect to have our own underground miners until these new mines (including Raven) are operating for a while. What kind of nonsense position is that?
And you're saying I"M the one not caring about Families and Jobs? I don't think so.
I want my region to grow is prosper and I want to be able to raise my family in it. Paying hundreds more in city taxes to pay for the repairs from trucks won't help anyone. The tired lie about 'jobs jobs jobs' used to justify anything is just that. A lie. And that's been proved now with this Chinese labour fiasco.
Fact is the world is full of different jobs. Anyone who thinks a coal mine is the only way to create real jobs is either not thinking hard enough, or already invested in said coal mine.
And now with the FIPPA trade agreement blowing up, god knows what that means with Raven if they ever decide to sell their coal to China.
It's a mess in so many ways and NOTHING about it is to the benefit of local people. We are being screwed by corporate interests who only care about their own paycheques and their shareholders.
I hope some shareholders start investing with their conscience.