Coal’s Comeback in Cape Breton: Xstrata to reopen Donkin mine

http://www.ocean-resources.com/articles.asp?articleid=667 Atlantic Canada - Saturday, May 11, 2013 By: Tom Mason Industrial Cape Breton is built on a foundation of coal, both literally and figuratively. The vast Sydney coalfield was the foundation for the Island’s industry for more than 300 years before coming to an end when Nova Scotia Power switched to other fuel sources two decades ago. Now the coal industry may be returning to Cape Breton in a big way. With new owners, lucrative new export markets and an innovative new production strategy, the Donkin mine located between Glace Bay and Port Morien could soon be producing approximately 2.75 million tonnes of washed export grade coking coal per year – an operation that could create as many as 300 direct jobs and hundreds more spin-off jobs in the economically depressed region.