VANCOUVER, Aug 10 (Reuters): A massive waste spill at a gold and copper mine in British Columbia could delay, or even derail, other energy and mining projects planned in the famously "green" West Coast Canadian province.
The breach of a dam holding back a huge pond of tailings, or waste materials, at Imperial Metals Corp's Mount Polley mine in the province's Interior region sent billions of gallons of gray sludge containing metals and minerals coursing into waterways early this week. On Tuesday, the miner's stock plunged 40 per cent in reaction.
The disastrous spill comes as a raft of government and industry-backed resource developments already face increased scrutiny from aboriginal groups and environmentalists, who worry that their risks may outweigh their rewards.
It also comes after a recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling on land titles, which is likely to give aboriginal groups more influence over developments in huge swathes of the province.
Besides Imperial Metal's own upcoming Red Chris copper-gold mine project, Enbridge Inc and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners are both planning major pipeline projects to move crude from Alberta's oil sands to the Pacific Coast.
There are also major hydroelectric and liquefied natural gas (LNG) developments in the works.
Massive Canada mine-waste spill casts doubt on resource projects
FE Team | Published: August 11, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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