Since the famous first strike at Leduc in February 1947, Alberta has hitched its economic wagon to oil and gas. Since then, energy has generated billions in royalties and paid for schools, hospitals, and infrastructure. In terms of opportunity and self-reliance, it has made Alberta the envy of Canada.But this happy arrangement is under threat. For nearly ten years, the government of former prime minister Justin Trudeau devoted itself to kneecapping the oil and gas industry with restrictive legislation such as Bill C-69, which stalls major project approvals, Bill C-48, which bans oil tanker traffic on the West Coast and more recently, and capping emissions for the oil and gas sector. Not based on technical feasibility or fairness, these are in effect production caps and meant only to fulfill ideological green commitments.Things look no better under Mr. Trudeau’s successor and erstwhile adviser, Prime Minister Mark Carney.His government is as hostile to oil and gas (and often it seems, to the Albertans who produce it,) as that of his predecessor. As a result, investment falters and threatens the entire Alberta economy.It is time to look for alternatives at what else lies beneath our feet — such as coal. .Not thermal coal, which is burned for electricity and increasingly subject to global restrictions, but metallurgical coal — the kind used to make steel and in high demand globally.The case for expanding coal production is compelling.To begin with, Alberta has an abundant supply. Second, we know there’s a market..To see the opportunity, look no further than British Columbia. In 2023, B.C.’s coal production was valued at more than $10.5 billion, totalling nearly 30 Mt of production. In contrast, Alberta’s total coal production in the same year was 8.2 Mt, with 91 percent of it being thermal coal , destined for electricity generation, primarily within the province.That's more than a threefold difference in production, and it has little to do with geology. Alberta has significant reserves of metallurgical coal, particularly in the Crowsnest Pass region and the Eastern Slopes of the Rockies. What Alberta lacks is B.C.’s export-oriented approach and its infrastructure connecting mines to global markets via deep-water ports. This connection has turned steelmaking coal into B.C.’s largest export.B.C. has been smart: Teck Resources, for example, focused on high-grade metallurgical coal and invested in efficient rail and port systems to get that coal to Asia, where steel production — and the demand for metallurgical coal — continues to grow. Steelmaking is one of the few industrial processes that cannot easily substitute away from coal, even with emerging technologies. Indeed, it is essential for everything from wind turbines to electric vehicles — all the things necessary for the green transition the government wants..Oil-rich Alberta, by contrast, has allowed its metallurgical coal sector to languish. Political skittishness, environmental lobbying, and regulatory bottlenecks have sidelined major projects like the Grassy Mountain coal project, even though it was projected to bring billions in investment and thousands of jobs to a struggling region of the province.That may now be changing. Northback Holdings — a company with strong backing and a long-term vision — is preparing to begin test drilling this fall on its metallurgical coal property near Blairmore, in the Crowsnest Pass. Northback CEO Mike Young says the company’s plan is to update geological data on a deposit that could represent one of Alberta’s best opportunities for developing a modern steelmaking coal mine. “The purpose of the drilling program is to collect site-specific data at Grassy Mountain which will inform a new mine design and decisions about future development options.”Encouragingly, the Alberta government has signalled its support for the venture, giving preliminary regulatory clearance for exploratory drilling. It’s a cautious step, but a positive one — and it should be followed by a broader commitment to responsible coal development across the province.Says Coal Association of Canada President Robin Campbell, “British Columbia has developed a very strong steelmaking coal sector. The sector employs thousands of Canadians, from those in the mines, to those who work at the ports. At present, Alberta has not capitalized on their opportunities to significantly grow their steelmaking coal sector, but projects like Grassy Mountain are still a possibility, and Albertans should be excited at the opportunity to develop this critical resource sector.”If Ottawa is serious about forcing Alberta to reduce emissions from oil and gas, then it has a responsibility to stay out of the way when Alberta pursues other economically viable natural resources.Alberta must of course pursue metallurgical coal development in an environmentally responsible way. It should insist that developers leverage modern reclamation practices and regulatory oversight must minimize ecological disruption. Thinking longer term, Alberta must also invest in transportation corridors — rail access to tidewater, particularly through alliances with Saskatchewan and the U.S. — to avoid dependence on Vancouver’s ports, where anti-development sentiment runs high.It’s time to be strategic. For decades, Alberta has tried to reason with Ottawa, defend the oil patch, and hope for a change in federal policy. But hope is not a strategy. While we should never stop fighting for the oil and gas sector, we also must broaden our horizons — starting with the vast, underutilized wealth locked in our coal reserves.Alberta's future prosperity shouldn't depend on the goodwill of Ottawa — and with metallurgical coal, it doesn’t have to.
