Coal mining in Saskatchewan

In 1928, Dominion Electric purchased Estevan Generating Station (EGS) from the municipality and by 1930, they had converted it into a coal-fired facility.

In 1985, Ontario Hydro built their Atikokan Generating Station, which also burned mainly Saskatchewan Lignite plus a small amount of Alberta or Wyoming sub-bituminous coal.

[2] Between 2008 and 2012, significant new coal deposits were discovered north of Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan wrapping around the Pasquia Hills.

Although the energy density is high, the coal in this area contains non-negligible amounts of sodium which prevents it from being used for electricity generation without some form of pre-processing.

Manitoba has abundant, zero-emission, low-cost hydroelectricity that can make the above processes affordable, while keeping emissions low.

[9] The Ravenscrag Formation (which is part of the Fort Union Group) exists across Southern Saskatchewan and has the most-economic lignite seams due to the shallow coal depth and low water table.

The formation contains three coal mining regions: Estevan, Willow Bunch / Wood Mountain, and Shaunavon / Cypress Hills.

Westmoreland's Estevan Mine currently consists of four active pits, and supplies coal directly to Boundary Dam and Shand.