Company History
In 2016, Evolve Power Limited (previously Montem Resources Limited) acquired a large parcel of steelmaking coal development projects in the Crowsnest Pass, Alberta. These projects included the idled Tent Mountain Mine, the Chinook Project, the 4-Stack Project, the Isola Project, and the Oldman Project.
The Company’s business plan was to first restart the Tent Mountain Mine and then develop the larger Chinook Project, with an expectation to grow hard coking coal production to greater than 5Mtpa from multiple open-cut mines in the Crowsnest Pass region.
The Company worked throughout 2017 to 2021 to restart the Tent Mountain Mine, this work included multiple exploration drill programs, extensive environmental monitoring and studies, Indigenous and stakeholder engagement and consultation, the completion of feasibility studies, and the preparation of an environmental impact assessment (EIA). However, in mid 2021, the Company pivoted at Tent Mountain to develop the site as a pumped hydro energy storage project. The Tent Mountain Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Project (TM-PHES) was sold to TransAlta Corporation in early 2025.
Evolve also took steps to advance the Chinook Project between 2018-2022. Work on the project included an exploration drill program at the Chinook Vicary area of the Project, a guiding scoping study of a 5Mtpa open-cut hard coking coal mine, and various environmental studies to prepare for an EIA.
Throughout 2021 and in early 2022 the government of Alberta issued multiple Ministerial Orders that ultimately imposed a moratorium on coal project development in the Alberta eastern slopes. This moratorium included the Chinook Project, as well as the 4-Stack, Isola, and Oldman projects.
As a result of the moratorium on coal project development in the Alberta eastern slopes, the Company lodged a legal claim against the Government of Alberta to recover damages from the constructive taking (de-facto expropriation) of its freehold mineral rights and coal leases at the Chinook, 4-Stack, Isola, and Oldman projects.
The Company continues to advance the legal claim against the Government of Alberta for the de facto expropriation of its coal assets and expects the trial to occur in 2025.
