“A. tmultéanittion dollar contract. to sell nor: : “theastern B.C. coal to Japanese | ateel interests will “Be formally signed in Tokyo on Sunday, : the , ~’ provincial government announced today, ot - The long-awaited word of a firm deal follows years_of discussion about the possibility of opening _Up:the resource-rich area of the province, and _comes after months of intense negotiations between the Japanese and officials of Teck Corp. and * Denison Mines Ltd. ‘The announcemest vas made ‘shortly “after midnight by Industry Minister Don Phillipe as he _ greeted Premier’ Bill Bennett, his cabinet and media at the Victoria train station afler the en- tourage returned to the capital from a four-day tour of Vancouver Island. . Phillips, who has worked hard on the project in the last year, could hardly contain his enthusiasm \. LEVESUSATIVS LIF mane ca) . "59 far as I'm concerned everything Is go; go, go." Phillipe said details of the signing would be Teleased later, but. indicated that the tonnage in- “valved was much larger than originally anticipated. ‘The negotiations had apparently involyed the sale” of 5, 3 million tonnes of coking coal a year over 15- year period starting in 1963. The Japanese were last | reported to be offering $75 jonne,.or about $3 a- tonne [eee than sought by B.C. producers, An industry ministry official aald an sgreement in Principle with the “major company (belleved to be Teck Corp. ) was signed last night in Tokyo , «+ Cand) they’re in the last stages of negotiations’ with the | other one (Denison Mines),’* He suid formal signing would take place in Toyo ~ - : Sunday, with details experted to be released then. as said the basic agreement had been reached and Previous claims that tentative agreement had RAR ny, | PARLIAMENT woLLULNGS, VICTORIA, o Ci, “yBV-1K4 Ope COMP: 77/78 76l been reached or that the negations were all but , complete have fallen through several times in past ~ months, but Bennett insisted ‘that today's an, nouncement is official. ° : “| will absolutely confirm that northéast céal'is going ahead and that the ionnage involved is larger ‘than anticipated,” he said. “Northeast’ coal will allow the provincial government to now build the transportation system inta the northeast which will Dot only be available for coal butiopen up & niajor ’ ’ British Columbia économie area,"-- .The coal properties are located.’ ‘south of Chet- wyad, B.C., near the Alberta border. The coal will be moved by rail to Prince Rupert erea new coal- . . loading facility is being constructed. |, . “ ’ ~ A key item in the coal companies’ negitistlons.. . “with the Japanese was recovery costs fir eat - struction of a Us-klometre spur lne:tnto the eval fields. BB ied pi ls Med paths Tit Super Bowl, a happenieg, will have over half the country in front of the TV set Ganday at 3 p.m. Page 7, “The stock market forecaster could well be a ; oulja board. See Richard Gwynn, Page a "The result of olf mency cam shew the huge- ' gaps Between those who sell and these who buy, Page ¢. : a Comics, Page 8, 9. mo Classified = ads, | Pages | People, Page's. ; Sports, Page 7. PB, Gomer, Page 4. . ee, Around the town, Page 2. mt . 1, - it. iE Westend Food Mart 635-5274 “Open 6:30am-Tlpm Westend tag Service tatours: Riggs 635-7228 “We Satisfy Tummy & Tank 365 DAYS A YEAR” days - a week TERRACE-KITIMAT dail - Volume 75 No. 14 Friday. Janvary 23, 1781 a LTD , “Complete Office _ Coffee. Service”. 638-1825 atHwy.16W. TERRACE . J