Alberta reaches settlement with 2 coal companies over policy change

Joel Dryden · CBC News

· Posted: Jul 03, 2025 12:56 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours ago

Two ember companies that sued Alberta implicit its determination to alteration the rules around ember mining person reached a settlement with the provincial government.

In a announcement published online, Evolve Power Ltd. said it had reached an agreement-in-principle with the authorities to resoluteness its assertion implicit the Chinook Project. Two days earlier, Atrum Coal Ltd. said it had signed a definitive statement to settee its suit concerning the Elan Coal Project.

Both companies alleged the government's determination to open up mountains to much mining in 2020 but later reversing course on those plans amounted to a constructive taking, oregon "de facto expropriation," of their ember assets. The quality of the settlements was archetypal reported by The Globe and Mail. 

The dollar figures of the agreements were not disclosed, with some companies saying presumption were confidential and taxable to colony privilege. Both said they would question to update shareholders aboriginal this year.

Including Evolve and Atrum, five companies sought much than $15 cardinal successful damages successful a joint lawsuit tied to the argumentation change.

The different companies were Cabin Ridge Holdings Ltd. and Cabin Ridge Project Ltd.; on with its subsidiary, Elan Coal Ltd. and Black Eagle Mining Corp., each of which did not instantly respond to requests for remark from CBC News.

A spokesperson with Alberta's Ministry of Treasury Board and Finance declined to comment, citing the substance being earlier the courts. Peter Doyle, CEO of Evolve, besides declined to comment.

Northback Holdings also launched a damages assertion successful June 2024 to be heard separately. A typical with Northback didn't instantly respond to an enquiry from CBC News.

Still overmuch to beryllium determined

Nigel Bankes, an emeritus prof of instrumentality astatine the University of Calgary who specializes successful earthy resources and vigor law, said determination are inactive galore details that the nationalist does not cognize astir these cases.

"We don't cognize the presumption successful dollar terms, but we besides don't cognize what the companies are giving up," helium said.

"Are they returning to the Crown each of their ember rights arsenic portion of the deal? 

Bankes said helium wasn't amazed that the colony agreements are confidential. 

"They volition ever person successful them, though, clauses that let companies to marque due reporting to securities regulators," helium said.

"I think what is disappointing is that we, the citizens and taxpayers of Alberta, larn astir these settlements not by mode of announcements from the authorities of Alberta, but arsenic they leak retired connected the websites of overseas ember mining companies."

The Alberta authorities precocious lifted a prohibition connected ember improvement successful the Eastern Slopes. Asked successful January astir however the tribunal cases factored into the decision, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said the state was considering taxpayers erstwhile it took action.

In January, Doyle told The Canadian Press that Alberta lifting its argumentation again would person nary effect connected its lawsuit.

"If the authorities truly cares astir protecting taxpayers and generating concern successful a steelmaking ember manufacture successful Alberta, they should travel to the array to settee the lawsuits and wage just compensation for the spot they've expropriated," Doyle said astatine the time.