A massive underground coal mine at the south end of the Comox Valley could have spin-off benefits for Campbell River.

This week, Compliance Energy and its partners Itochu Corporation and electronics giant LG International went to the public to introduce the proposed Raven Underground Coal Project.

“This one project is bigger than all the previous coal that has been mined in the area,” said Dan Berkshire, project manager for the Raven lands.

The estimated 100 million tonnes, if proven and approved for mining, would far exceed the roughly 50 million taken out in places like Cumberland and Nanaimo during their active coal mining days.

The coal is metallurgical coal, used to make steel.

According to Berkshire, it’s quite rare, and their Asian partners are interested in securing a source for future industry in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China.

“Our current civilizations as we know it can’t exist without it (steel),” said Berkshire. “It’s an integral part of the way we live and we couldn’t support our current population without it.”

Getting the coal off the island and all the way to Asia will be a big part of the decision making process. Berkshire said they’re considering training or trucking to Port Alberni, to Campbell River’s Middle Point terminal or Duke Point outside of Nanaimo.

As for jobs, the work is estimated to provide 200 direct jobs, with 300 to 500 additional, indirect jobs in local communities, possibly including Campbell River, over the mine’s anticipated 25-year life.

“This is all given the fact that this project is feasible,” said Berkshire.

An operating mine is still a long ways away. The companies, working together as the Comox Joint Venture, are still trying to gauge public support. This week, they hosted an open house at the Fanny Bay Community Hall, with over 300 people coming through to ask questions about the proposal and to view maps and graphs. They also took local media out to the site, to get an idea of the layout, impact and access to the property.

“We’re extremely lucky in the fact that this location… we’re literally sitting on the doorstep of all the infrastructure that we need,” said Berkshire during that tour.

The land is 3,100 hectares in size, but the actual surface area of disturbance will be confined to 200 hectares — almost directly across from the access at Buckley Bay Main (near the Denman Island ferry) to the west side of the property, set in a valley with a natural ridge on the water side.

The site was chosen with the help of a community advisory committee.

That ridge should protect the coast and Denman Islanders from sight or noise pollution from the mining work, which is all done mechanically now, using no explosives.

The company is currently doing a feasibility study and expects it to take more than six months before the environmental assessment and feasibility process is complete and they know whether the project is economically viable.

That planning process is ongoing now — and they say they’re eager to keep the community involved and be open for any questions. At the open house, locals asked many questions, particularly focused on the potential impact on watersheds and the job market.

Raven representatives say the mine work would be confined within the Cowie Creek watershed, and they are continuing to monitor so they can assess mitigation measures.

Understanding that there is still a lot of planning to do, staff said it’s an important time to hear from the public.

“We are committed to working closely with the community through every stage of the project,” said John Tapics, Compliance Energy’s CEO. “Our goal is to understand and address all community interests and considerations.”