B10 May 21, 2014
Estevan Mercury
Coal industry moving forward with past connections The Estevan Mine has undergone more than name changes and ownership, but its general manager of the past year will continue to provide direction for the local coal outlet. Kraig Wanner has been the general manager since May 1, 2013, stepping into the role following the completion of tenure of Brian Mackinnon. Wanner first took charge of the mining division, and later in September also took on the head role of the plant division. Wanner has worked at the Estevan mine for 12 years. The Torquay native found it an easy move into the mining industry with such a wealth of opportunity locally. “I’ve just always enjoyed the mining atmosphere,” he said. There has been a lot of change ongoing since Wanner took the GM role, with the operations being sold by Sherritt International to Westmoreland Coal Company and the connection of the mining operations and plant division being consolidated under one outfit. Wa n n e r h a s b e e n overseeing the operations throughout the mine, which covers more than 20,000 hectares and more than 400 employees. The mines produce roughly 6.5 million tonnes of coal annually with the help of six draglines operating in four active pit areas. Previously known as
“We’re using that technology and activated carbon to blow back into the flue gas streams to capture mercury and emissions at the power generator station.”
- Kraig Wanner
Kraig Wanner, general manager Estevan Mine. the Boundary Dam Mine and Bienfait Mine, as part of the amalgamation, the entire mining property is now just the Estevan Mine. “Amalgamating, that has been in the works for a long time. That process has been going on for quite a few months,” said Wanner. No matter the behind the scenes changes, the operation remains quite simple: produce enough coal to provide roughly 1,000 megawatts of power through the Shand and Boundary Dam Power Sta-
tions. “In the mining division all the coal is used for thermal power production, but we do have the plant division that we sell for char to Kingsford to make briquettes for everyday barbecue charcoal that you use, as well as the addition of the activated carbon plant as a joint venture.” Wanner noted they are using the activated carbon, which they operate in conjunction with Cabot Norit Canada, to aid in mercury capture.
“We’re using that technology and activated carbon to blow back into the flue gas streams to capture mercury and emissions at the power generator station. It’s used for filtration, a capture system to capture mercury that would go into the air. That’s huge technology,” he said with a smile, “using coal to filter emissions.” While the carbon-capture project in the works at Boundary Dam’s Unit 3 is expected to sell that captured carbon to later be used
MAY 25 - 31, 2014
in enhanced oil recovery, Wanner noted there isn’t much use for the captured mercury. “We’re just capturing it and it goes out with the ash process,” he said. Again, coal operations are a mix of the new and old. Despite the wealth of technology and varying uses of coal, the mining process presses forward with tried and true methods crafted over decades. “For the most part, mining is fairly simple in that we uncover the coal. We haul it to our thermal customers,” said Wanner. “Coal over time, other than just equipment and technologies, that’s it. Best practices still apply, whether or not it was 10 or 15 years ago. The technology is the biggest change we’ve seen in the last 10 years.” The mines have been a big employer in the area for a long time. With all the competition among other companies and industries in the area for labour, the Estevan operation continues as a prominent employer in the southeast. “The turnover rate at the mine sites is fairly good.
You have your ups and downs as with any business but for the most part, we’ve been actively recruiting Class 3 power engineers for the activated carbon plant as well as journeyman electricians and have been successful that way,” said Wanner. “Usually the positions that take a bit of time are the trades because everyone’s looking for them.” And as the company moves through its transition from Sherritt to Westmoreland, which officially changed on April 28, Wanner said the connection between coal and the community will remain strong. “Sherritt has been a good provider for employment in the area and has been a good supporter within the community,” Wanner said. But he added they are proud of their new Westmoreland name, and he feels the company is also supportive of the communities they operate in. “We want to continue to support the community because that’s where our workforce comes from. We want to help out as much as we can,” said Wanner.
MINING WEEK IN SASKATCHEWAN
FREE PUBLIC TOUR THURSDAY, MAY 29 8:30 a.m. Bus departs Estevan Shoppers Mall’s main entrance and tours Westmoreland Coal's Estevan Mine and SaskPower’s Shand Power Station. 11:00 a.m. Complimentary Lunch at Estevan Mine 12:00 p.m. Back to Shoppers Mall
To Sign Up for a Tour Call
306-636-5251
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