| This article is part of the Global Coal Mine Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor. |
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Estevan Coal Mine is an operating coal mine in Estevan, Bienfait, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Mine Name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Estevan Coal Mine | Estevan, Bienfait, Saskatchewan, Canada[1] | 49.092848, -102.886072 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the coal mine:
Project Details
Table 2: Project status
| Status | Status Detail | Opening Year | Closing Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating[1] | – | 1973[2] | – |
Table 3: Operation details
| Capacity (Mtpa) | Production (Mtpa) | Year of Production | Mine Type | Mining Method | Mine Size (km2) | Mine Depth (m) | Workforce Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | 3.13[3] | 2024[3] | Surface | Open Pit | 203.0[4] | 50.0* | 369[2] |
Table 4: Coal resources and destination
| Total Reserves (Mt) | Year of Total Reserves Recorded | Total Resources (Mt) | Coalfield | Coal Type | Coal Grade | Primary Consumer/ Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 125.0 | – | – | – | Subbituminous | Thermal[1] | Boundary Dam power station ; Shand power station[1] |
Table 5: Ownership and parent company
| Owner | Parent Company | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie Mines and Royalty LLC [100%][1] | Westmoreland Coal Co [100.0%] | USA |
Table 6: Historical production (unit: million tonnes per annum)
| ROM or Saleable | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROM | 6.3[5] | – | 6[6] | – | – | 4.34[7] | – |
Note: The above section was automatically generated and is based on data from the Global Coal Mine Tracker May 2025 release.
Background
Estevan Mine is a surface coal mine, owned and operated by Westmoreland Mining, near Estevan and Bienfait, Saskatchewan, Canada.[8] Estevan Mine supplies coal to Saskatchewan Power Corporation’s four-unit Boundary Dam and single-unit Shand Generating Station, an activated carbon processing joint venture, and a wholly-owned char plant, whose product is used to manufacture barbecue briquettes.[8]
The mine uses advanced topsoil stockpiling techniques to minimize erosion, along with contour leveling, unmanned aerial vehicle surveying, and 3D modeling and equipment simulation software to optimize reclamation efficiency and re-vegetation of all disturbed land developed before being returned to prior use activities.[8]
In 2019, the Westmoreland Coal Company emerged from a Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a privately held company—Westmoreland Mining LLC—owned and operated by a group of its former creditors.[9][10]
According to local new reports, coal production requirements from Estevan have dropped significantly in recent years due to the planned shutdown of Unit 5 at the Boundary Dam Power Station, as well as planned work on existing Units 3 and 6.[11] From 2023 to 2024, nearly a 30 percent drop in production was observed.[11]
Articles and Resources
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of world coal mines, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Mine Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 https://web.archive.org/web/20240718163341/https://westmoreland.com/estevan-mine-2/. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20210805142756/https://westmoreland.com/location/estevan-mine-saskatchewan/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://www.discoverestevan.com/articles/exclusive-westmoreland-coal-estevan-seeing-coal-demand-drop-says-no-planned-layoffs-yet.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20240125054532/https://miningdataonline.com/property/231/Coal-Valley-Mine.aspx. Archived from the original on 2024-01-25.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/106455/000010645518000028/wlb201710-k.htm.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://miningdataonline.com/property/932/Estevan-Mine.aspx.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20241003072340/https://www.mining-technology.com/marketdata/five-largest-coal-mines-canada/. Archived from the original on 03 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Westmoreland Mining, Estevan Mine, Company Website, accessed June 2022
- ↑ "Westmoreland Coal Company and affiliates’ emerges from restructuring", Fasken website, Accessed March 2025.
- ↑ Proctor, Daryll, "Westmoreland Coal Emerges from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy", Power Magazine, 17 March 2019.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Alquino, Lemuel,"Exclusive: Westmoreland Mining Estevan seeing coal demand drop, says no planned layoffs yet", Discover Estevan, 17 September 2024.
