Brian Zinchuk is editor and owner of Pipeline Online
A Westmoreland dragline working east of Shand Power Station in 2018. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
“Westmoreland intends not only to continue operating our mines in support of these critical power plants but also to grow with Saskatchewan.”
Several letters of support were written backing the province’s move to rebuilt its coal fleet, announced on June 18. This letter is from the Westmoreland Mining CEO Martin Purvis:
June 17, 2025
The Honourable Jeremy Harrison
Minister of Crown Investments Corporation
Legislative Building
Regina
Dear Minister Harrison:
On behalf of Westmoreland Mining, our Saskatchewan employees, our local communities and our valued suppliers, I want to take this opportunity to commend the Provincial Government for its foresight to pursue a robust, reliable and equitable plan to steer Saskatchewan through the forthcoming energy transition. The ethos of building the new before discarding the old is a wise approach in our book.
Your announcement brings clarity and confidence to hundreds of families in Estevan and Coronach who have built their livelihoods around coal mining and power generation. By choosing to fully utilize these baseload assets as a bridge to Saskatchewan’s nuclear future, your government is sending a clear message: that Saskatchewan’s energy policy will be determined by the Province, for the benefit of its citizens, economy, and future generations.
Westmoreland is proud to be part of that bridge. With the life extension of the Estevan and Poplar River mines, over 500 skilled jobs will be sustained, along with the many indirect economic benefits that flow through local businesses, schools, and municipalities. These mines and their workforces are not relics of the past-they are active contributors to Saskatchewan’s prosperity and energy stability.
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- 0087 Lori Carr Coal Expansion0087 Lori Carr Coal Expansion
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We believe this decision is not only economically prudent but morally grounded. Saskatchewan’s vast coal resources, combined with world-class workers and industry-leading carbon capture technology, make for a pragmatic and responsible path forward. As the Province rightly recognizes, coal-especially with CCS-remains one of the most secure and domestically controlled energy assets available as we all work toward net-zero by 2050.
Westmoreland intends not only to continue operating our mines in support of these critical power plants but also to grow with Saskatchewan. Our new Westmoreland Contract Mining Services platform is designed to support reclamation efforts, partner with First Nations, and help identify and develop other energy-relevant minerals across the province. We view Saskatchewan as a long-term partner-not just in coal, but in the next era of resource and energy development.
I know I speak for all our stakeholders when I say that we are honored to serve Saskatchewan and to play a meaningful role in its transition to a cleaner, stronger, and more self-determined energy future.
Sincerely,
Martin Purvis
Chief Executive Officer
Westmoreland Mining Holdings LLC
- 0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p
- 0097 Eagle Sky Ventures LTD0097 Eagle Sky Ventures LTD
- 0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it
- 0053 Kingston Midstream Westspur Alameda Click Before You Dig0053 Kingston Midstream Westspur Alameda Click Before You Dig
- 0092 Turnbull projects big and small0092 Turnbull projects big and small
- 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser
- 0087 Lori Carr Coal Expansion0087 Lori Carr Coal Expansion
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
- 0076 Latus only0076 Latus only
- 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
- 0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0021 OSY Rentals S8 Promo
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0006 JK Junior
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
- 9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
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BREAKING: Saskatchewan to rebuild its coal fleet, despite federal regulations calling for its demise