INNOVATION March-April 2017

f ea t u r e s

Acting on rising prices for metallurgical coal, Conuma Coal Resources has restarted production at the Brule ( S hown ) and Wolverine mines in northeastern BC. P hoto : C onuma C oal R esources

Further afield, the Canadian Carbonization Research Association, a co-operative research and development effort between the Canadian coal industry, the steel industry and the federal government, is one of the few world-class research and development and coking coal–evaluation groups in the world. Because most of the country’s metallurgical coal mines are located in BC, the association focuses on researching the metallurgical coal found here, as well as on industry-related problems. Over the past 50 years, they have published papers on coal quality, coal preparation, minerals in coal, coal blending, coal sample storage and handling, coke quality prediction, stockpile management, pilot-scale coke ovens, small-scale coke ovens, coke stabilization, coke strength, and biofuel. A number of fundamental studies conducted by association researchers demonstrate the technical merits of Western Canadian coals and provide evidence that metallurgical coals from Western Canada—mainly BC— make excellent quality coke. This is helping to overturn an unfounded and long-held perception among the global steel industry that coals from Western Canada are inferior to those exported from Australia or the US. British Columbia’s coal industry remains vibrant and dynamic. As the technical value of BC-produced metallurgical coal gains worldwide recognition, and markets support renewed growth, the industry here will see continuing need for young geoscientists and engineers to develop our world-class mines and conduct world-class research. v Melanie Mackay, P.Geo., is president of the Western Canadian Coal Society.

NEW ACO Drain On-Line catalogue

The new ACO Drain online catalogue allows a user to seamlessly navigate the entire range of ACO Drain solutions at the click of a mouse. Clicking on any product in the catalogue leads to the ap- propriate page on the website, where documents such as specifi- cation sheets or installation details can be downloaded. Making the design process easier and faster while ensuring correct prod- uct selection. http://acodrain.us/drain-catalog.html

ACO Systems, Ltd. ( 877) 226-4255 I info@acocan.ca I www.acocan.ca

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