Prince George, B.C.- Fortune Minerals Limited and the Tahltan Central Council ("TCC") on behalf of the Tahltan Nation have entered into an agreement that commits the parties to the principles of cooperation and mutual respect.

Fortune Minerals is currently engaged in the Environmental Assessment (EA) process for the Mount Klappan anthracite coal project in northwestern B.C.

 

The agreement between Fortune Minerals and the Tahltan does not mean the Tahltan Central Council is committed to supporting the Mount Klappan project.

 

Rather, the agreement recognizes that the Tahltan Nation holds aboriginal title and rights in their traditional territory, which includes the location for the proposed Mount Klappan project.

 

In addition, the agreement does not displace the Crown's obligations to consult and accommodate the Tahltan with respect to the Mount Klappan project and does not imply Tahltan consent for the EA process.

The two parties say they entered into this agreement in order to see an orderly and timely review of the Mount Klappan development take place.

 

Here are some highlights of the agreement:

- Mutual recognition of each others interests in the area;

- Effective and timely participation in the EA process;

- Open and regular dialogue and communication about each others interests and concerns.

 

The Mount Klappan project is located within Tahltan traditional territory and consists of 15,000 hectares of contiguous coal licenses located 150 km northeast of the port of Stewart, 330 km northeast of the port of Prince Rupert and 100 km south of the Tahltan community of Iskut.

 

The feasibility studies assessed annual production of 3 million tonnes of ultra-low volatile pulverized coal injection (PCI) products used in the manufacture of steel, and options to produce other coal products.

Mining would be carried out using conventional open pit methods, with the coal processed in a wash plant constructed at the site, and clean coal products trucked to the port of Stewart for export to overseas steel customers.