Burns Lake, B.C.- The Minerals North  conference  gets underway today in Burns Lake. 

Last week may have been  Mining Week, but  the next decade is holding promise  of major  activity  throughout the province of B.C. when  it comes to mining. 

The boom in mining is being fuelled by the strong demand from Asia for metals to be used in manufactured products and that boom is expected to continue when the  Highway 37  Hydro line opens up the  northwest. 

Those attending the Minerals North  conference will be examining issues from  mining exploration in the north, to the challenge of growing a workforce to meet the labour demands. According to the Mining Association of BC, 9310 people were directly employed  in the mining sector last year, and the average  salary was $115,700.00.  The MABC also reports the industry will be “required to hire or replace  over 112,000 workers by 2021, under a baseline scenario.  Clearly, the future competitiveness of the industry will depend on its ability to attract and retain people.”

Currently, B.C. has nine metal mines and 10 coal mines in operation .  The Province has just issued a permit for the Treasure Mountain operation near Hope,  and earlier this month, issued a permit for the Red Chris mine near Dease Lake. 

The provincial government had set a goal to have eight new mines and nine expansions by 2015.  The Province is more than half way  there. 

New Mines:

• Copper Mountain Mine, which began production in June 2011,
• Mount Milligan by Prince George,
• New Afton by Kamloops,
• Barkerville by Quesnel and
• Red Chris by Dease Lake

The mine expansions include:

• Highland Valley near Ashcroft,
• Elkview near Sparwood,
• Huckleberry near Smithers,
• Endako near Fraser Lake and
• Quinsam near Campbell River

According to the Mining Association of B.C.,  gross mining revenues last year were  $9.9 billion dollars,  up from $7.9 billion  in 2010.  The MABC says the increase  is nearly entirely attributable to  an increase in coal prices and  in coal shipments.