Donkin mine probe sparks hope for jobs

An old coal mine in Cape Breton has been uncapped, fuelling excitement that coal miningcould once again provide jobs onthe island.

XStrata Coal recently removed the dirt and cement from two portals at the Donkin mine as part of its exploration of the site.

Although it's early in the process, project managers are pleased with what they've seen so far.

"The condition of the portals is, to my view, better than what we expected," said company spokesman Jeff Gerard. "We're quite optimistic that we're going to be down to the coal seam by Christmas."

Gerard said the next step is to drain water out of the two portals, which is scheduled to begin in mid-September.

Once the water is gone, XStrata will have access to the coal seam. The company will then be able to start testing the coal as part of amine feasibility study.

Devco, the former federal Crown corporation, drilled tunnels in the 1980s as it tried to develop the Donkin mine. The project was abandoned when the price of coal fell, andthe tunnels were flooded and sealed.

Estimates of the amount of coal at the site range from 300 million to 400 million tonnes.

Alfie MacLeod, the MLA for the area, supportsXStrata's Donkin project, saying it would have a huge impact on the area.

"The benefits for the communities of Donkin and Port Morien and Glace Bay are major, major benefits that will show that some people won't have to move anymore to Fort McMurray to find work," MacLeod said.

If the exploration project remains on schedule, the feasibility study should be completed in 2008. At that point,XStrata will decide whether to start extracting coal.

Meanwhile, the federal and provincial governments are still in talks over who has ownership of the Donkin coal. A spokesperson for the Nova Scotia government says that decision will be made soon.

Coal mining was once a major source of employment in Cape Breton. It's been nearly five years since the last coal mine on theislandshut down.