Issue link: http://resourceworld.uberflip.com/i/832998
J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 1 7 www.resourceworld.com 25 www.marianaresources.com AIM: MARL • TSXV: MARL Mariana is a rapidly evolving active exploration and development company with a diversified, highly prospective portfolio of gold, silver and copper projects in Turkey, Côte d'lvoire and South America. Mariana_May2017_3.6x4.7.indd 1 18/5/17 11:09 am 103-4401 Bristol Rd., Terrace BC | (250) 635-2659 | www.yxt.ca C A P A C I T Y • C O N N E C T I O N S • R E L I A B I L I T Y • S A F E T Y Capacity Executive board room,full service restaurant and vehicle rentals (National, Hertz, Budget & Driving Force) Connections Connections to Vancouver, Calgary, Prince George, Bob Quinn and Dease Lake with unrestricted aircraft accommodation including 757, 737 and 767 Reliability A state of the art instrument landing system upgraded in 2015 allowing for 99.7% reliability of scheduled fl ight completion Safety Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Meziadin Junction 2 hrs 30 mins Port Edward 1 hr 30 mins Kitimat 35 mins Terrace 15 mins JUST A SHORT DRIVE AWAY GET CONNECTED THROUGH THE NORTHWEST REGIONAL AIRPORT 604.581.2827 www.thornleycreative.com 170057_Ad-Minerals Exp. Date: Feb 7, 2017 Bleed: 0.125" Colour: CMYK The four-year downturn in the mining sector was difficult for many companies due to a decrease in commodity prices, negative investor sentiment and hard-to- find funding. Some junior explorers, not in the survey, are still struggling while others have rebounded. Of course, one of the great advantages of a healthy mining sector are the payments made to government in the form of taxes, royalties and other contributions as this is new wealth that can be directed to worthy objectives such as healthcare and educa- tion. Total payments made by the survey participants to government increased to $650 million in 2016, up from $476 mil- lion in 2015 and $467 million in 2014. PwC noted that "the increase was due to an increase in corporate income taxes in line with the growth of net income, as well as an increase in employment taxes as the number of individuals working in the sur- veyed operations increased." Jobs have been returning to north- east British Columbia with the reopening of two metallurgical (steel-making) coal mines and a third to open this summer. This development has been most welcome as northeast BC was hit hard by the down- turn in coal prices. Conuma Coal reopened the Brule and Wolverine metallurgical coal mines, pro- viding jobs for 390 people. The company now plans to reopen the Willow Creek Mine which will generate approximately another 300 jobs. PwC's report stated that metallurgical coal prices averaged US $115 per tonne in 2016, up from US $101 per tonne in 2015. "The opening of the Wolverine Mine by Conuma Coal is the best Christmas pres- ent Tumbler Ridge could have asked for," Tumbler Ridge Mayor Don McPherson said in a news release in December. "We have had a tough three years, and this will put people back to work and improve our economic outlook." Conuma is working closely with First Nations on revenue sharing agreements as well as the provincial and municipal gov- ernments to create jobs and run efficient, low-cost operations. "If we can help the company make these mines operate as cost effectively as pos- sible, it's good for everybody," McPherson said. Conuma chose to invest in northeast- ern BC and buy the former Walter Energy mines based on due diligence, an optimis- tic outlook for coal prices, and support from a number of stakeholders, according to CEO Mark Bartkoski. "We felt really good about the properties and the spirit of the people in the community," Bartkoski said. "It has truly been a testament to posi- tive collaboration." Once it bought the mines, in early September 2016, Conuma didn't waste Open pit mining operations at Copper Mountain Mining Corp.'s Copper Mountain Mine near Princeton, southwest British Columbia. Photo by Ellsworth Dickson.