PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Dual-listed coal developer Coalspur on Friday announced that it had reached an agreement with the last remaining First Nation intervener for the development of its flagship Vista project, in Canada.

The Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation was the last remaining First Nation party granted intervener status by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), and has now withdrawn as an intervener.

Coalspur president and CEO Gill Winckler said that the agreement formalised the relationship between the company and Alexis, created mutually beneficial opportunities for business, and provided for Alexis community infrastructure and programmes.

The agreement also ensured Alexis participation in the reclamation and ongoing environmental monitoring of the Vista operation.

“We have been engaged in discussions with Alexis for over two years and now have a way forward that not only advances Vista, but allows Alexis to participate in, and benefit from, its success,” said Winckler.

He noted that the company had been engaged with a number of Aboriginal communities over the past two years, adding that agreements had been reached with five other communities through the consultation process.

“We have now addressed the concerns of all the parties that were granted intervener status by the AER and look forward to securing regulatory approval and being in a position to finalise our funding arrangements for the construction of Vista.”

The only remaining obstacle to the development of the Vista project was an individual who has been granted a conditional opportunity to make a 30 minute presentation to the AER.

Coalspur has requested that the AER cancel this hearing, which was scheduled for January 13, in light of the fact that the company had now reached an agreement with all the relevant parties.

The AER was expected to render its decision in the next 90 days, with Winckler saying Coalspur was continuing its work with various regulatory agencies relating to its applications for final approvals and permits for the Vista project.

Phase 1 of the Vista development would involve the construction and commissioning of a six-million-tonne-a-year thermal coal facility with the capacity to expand to 12-million tonnes a year.