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Coal in Canada

Coal reserves in Canada rank 13th largest in the world (following the former Soviet Union, the United States, the People's Republic of China and Australia) at approximately 10 billion tons, 0.6% of the world total.[1] This represents more energy than all of the oil and gas in the country combined. The coal industry generates CDN$5 billion annually.[2] Most of Canada's coal mining occurs in the West of the country.[3] British Columbia operates 9 coal mines,[4] Alberta nine, Saskatchewan three and New Brunswick one. Nova Scotia operates several small-scale mines, Westray having closed following the 1992 disaster there.[5]

In 2005, Canada produced 67.3 million tons of coal and its consumption was 60 million tons. Of this 56 million tons were used for electricity generation. The remaining four million tons was used in the steel, concrete and other industries.[5] The largest consumers of coal in Canada were Alberta and Ontario. In 1997, Alberta accounted for 47% of Canada's coal consumption at 26.2 million tons, and Ontario accounted for 25% at 13.8 million tons. Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick also use coal to generate electricity to varying degrees.[6]

In 2016, The Government of Canada, with the support of all provinces except Manitoba and Saskatchewan, decided to phase out the use of coal-fired power plants by 2030 in order to meet its Paris climate agreement commitments as declared in the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. The decision affected 50 communities dependent on a nearby coal mine or power plant for its economy, and 3,000 to 3,900 workers who worked in the 13 power stations and 9 nearby mines that were still active in 2016 across Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.[7] In November 2017 the Government of Canada co-founded the Powering Past Coal Alliance. As of June 2024 only 8 operational coal-fired power stations remain in Canada.

Overview

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Canada exports both the higher and lower grades of coal—metallurgical coal and thermal coal.[8] According to a February 2015 Natural Resources Canada report, in 2013, "Canadian coal exports totalled $5.5 billion."[8] Ninety-three percent of coal exports were the higher-grade coking coal.[8] In 2013 there were only two coal mines in Canada producing the lower grade thermal coal for export—Westmoreland Coal Company's Coal Valley and Hillsborough Resources Limited's Quinsam mine.[8] A third thermal coal for export mining project—the Vista Coal Project in northern Alberta—had received regulatory approval in the 1980s, and again in 2014, but the price of thermal coal had dropped dramatically from 2011 to 2014 and the project stalled. The project was revived in 2015 when American billionaire coal investor purchased Vista. Thermal coal was exported from Vista in 2019.[8]

For several years, coal production decreased as provincial and federal governments sought to phase out its use in favor of renewable energy in order to combat global warming.[7][9]

By 2018, there was an increase global coal prices and improvements in thermal coal mining, which led to an increase in coal mining activity.[10] Most of Canada's coal reserves are located in Alberta.[11]

In 2010, Canada ranked 15th in the world in coal production, with a total production of 67.9 million tonnes.[11]

Coal was first mined in Canada in 1639 when the first mine was opened in Grand Lake, New Brunswick. First Nations would identify deposits, and the mined product would be used for tasks such as burning and trading. During the New France period, a large mine was built in Cow Bay, Nova Scotia on Cape Breton Island to supply to Louisbourg fortress.[7][9]

Background

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A group of miners outside the entrance of a coal mine in Edmonton, Alberta around 1910.

In the late 18th century, industrial mining begun in Canada, which helped propel Canada's industrialization. Infrastructure for its transportation and shipping was built. Cape Breton supplied Boston and other American ports in Coal and had 21 coal mines by 1871, but they were all abandoned in the early 20th century.[7][9]

In Western Canada, coal was first mined on Vancouver Island in the mid-19th century. The development of the Canadian Pacific railway led to mines being built in towns along its route in Alberta. By 1911, Western Canada was producing most of the country's coal, and Alberta was the country's largest producing province.[7][9]

Working in Canadian coal mines was very dangerous. Deadly mine disasters occurred in multiple locations, including Hillcrest, Alberta and Springhill, Nova Scotia. Harsh working conditions in Coal mines and coal-powered factories led to the establishment of Canada's trade union movement. Major coal strikes occurred in Cape Breton in the 1920s and Estevan, Saskatchewan in the 1930s.[7]

Following the Second World War, economic sectors that previously used coal such as domestic heating, industrial energy, and transportation energy started using petroleum. However, Canada's coal production remained relevant due to the exportation of metallurgical coal to Japan. Following the 1970s energy crisis, Canada's coal production grew rapidly as it became more cost-competitive and new export markets emerged in other Asian countries.[7][9]

Economic impact

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Coal production in Canada, 1940–2012

In 2016, "mining, processing, and related services from thermal and metallurgical coal contributed an estimated $4 billion to Canada's economy, or roughly 0,2%. of Canada's GDP," according to Natural Resources Canada. NRC reported that about 50 percent of this "GDP contribution came from metallurgical coal" and, in comparison, "clean energy accounted for 1.3% of Canada’s GDP."[7]

Coal in Alberta

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Main article: Coal in Alberta

In 2018, coal mining in Alberta accounted for $10 million in royalties for the province, according to Alberta Energy's Coal and Mineral Development Unit's "2018 Year in Review".[10] In 2018, Alberta's coal production totaled approximately 20 million tonnes. Coal production had reached a peak 2016−approximately 25 million tonnes, representing about $20 million in royalties.[10]

Coal formations in what is now the province of Alberta, originated approximately 140 and 65 million years ago.[12] The collision between the two immense plates had pushed up the Rocky Mountains while depressing the North American continent's interior.[12] New layers of growth crushed and buried layers of peat, shale, and sandstone, compressing them into coal beds.[12] The oldest coal deposits were pushed closer to the surface about 80 to 55 million years ago, forming part of the Rocky Mountains's foothills and Front Ranges.[12]

The coal beds that lie under the prairies is an inferior, impure grade, which is not capable of firing blast furnaces essential to steel-making.[12] The Coalspur Formation in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin in the foothills of southwestern Alberta,[13] has large quantities of high-quality coal.[14][15] The Coalspur Formation runs from south of the Wapiti River to the North Saskatchewan River.[16] The Coalspur coal zone is about 120 metres (390 ft) to 200 metres (660 ft) thick.[17]

The Siksika —Blackfoot and the Kainai—Blood people, called an area on the banks of the Oldman River the Sik-ooh-kotoki or "place of the black rocks."[14] This was the site of the first commercial coal mine, opened in 1874 by an entrepreneur from New York City.[14]

In 1793, Hudson's Bay Company surveyor, Peter Fidler identified a seam of high-quality coal near the Red Deer River.[14]

In 1882, a large mine became operational, leading to the formation of towns, such as Coalbanks, now known as Lethbridge, then Coaldale, Coalhurst, and Black Diamond.[14]

In 1976, the Progressive Conservative government under then Premier Peter Lougheed restricted open-pit mines in most of Alberta's Rocky Mountains and Foothills through the Coal Development Policy. Alberta's last open pit mine closed in 1983.[14]

In 2016, then NDP Premier Rachel Notley announced the elimination of all coal-fired power stations in the province by 2030.[18]

Coal mines closed in the Crowsnest Pass, Canmore, Nordegg, and Grande Cache, among others.[12]

By 2020, coal-fired power stations in operation in Alberta included the Battle River, Genesee, H.R. Milner, Keephills, Sheerness, and Sundance stations.

According to Alberta Energy's 2018 ' Review, there was an increase in bituminous coal mining activity following a decrease for several years. In 2018, mining operations have restarted, new greenfield operations began, and new mining projects were proposed.[10] According to the Review two major factors contributed to the increase in coal mining activity−an increase in global coal prices and recent improvements in thermal coal.[10]

By 2019, the Grande Cache mine reopened.

As of June 2024 Alberta has phased out all coal fired electrical generation with the remaining plants converting over to natural gas generation.

Coal in British Columbia

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In 2019, coal sales reached $5.08 billion US,[19] making coal the province's "most valuable mined commodity".[19] About 85% of B.C.'s coal is a higher grade of coal, known as metallurgical coal or coking coal.[20] It is used to produce good-quality coke. which is essential in blast furnaces used to make steel from iron ore.[21][22][23] Most coal from British Columbia mines is exported on the international markets through coal ports near Vancouver or Prince Rupert.[19]

Major coals mine fields in the province include a field in the Kootenay Mountains in southeastern B.C., and Peace coalfields in northeastern B.C.[19] British Columbia's largest producing coal field is in Elk Valley (British Columbia), which is located in the Kootenay Mountains, about 60 kilometres from the borders of Montana and Alberta. It has had operational coal mines for over a century. By 2020, Teck Resources owned all five coal mines in that region including Elkford Operations, an open-pit mine just west of the Alberta border with British Columbia.[14]

Transition to natural gas, nuclear, and renewables

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In 2003, the McGuinty government of Ontario set a goal of closing all coal-fired power stations, to be replaced with healthier and more environmentally-friendly energy sources. As part of the coal phase-out, the provincial government agreed for Bruce Power to refurbish units 1 and 2 of Bruce A of the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station to replace lost generating capacity.[24] According to a 2014 article, long-term health problems caused by coal made it twice as expensive as wind energy.[25][26] The OPG Atikokan Generating Station, coal-fired power generation plant, which had been in operation for 27 years, was shut down in 2012. Work on a $170 million biomass conversion project—the first biomass conversion project in Ontario, was undertaken at that time.[27] It was anticipated that the project would "create 200 construction jobs and help protect existing jobs at the plant" and provide "new economic opportunities for Ontario's forestry sector, which will provide the biomass fuel to the plant".[27] As part of Ontario's phase out of coal-fired electricity generation, the Thunder Bay Generating Station (TBGS)—the final coal plant in Ontario—stopped burning coal in April 2014.[28] The TBGS underwent a biomass conversion to run on advanced biomass—wood pellets. It was recommissioned on 9 February 2015.[28]

In 2016, the Government of Alberta announced the elimination of all coal-fired power stations in the province by 2030.[18] The Government of New Brunswick made the same announcement the following year.[29] Also in 2016, the government of Canada announced the goal of phasing out the use of coal-fired power stations across the country in favour of less polluting alternatives for electricity generation by 2030.[30] In response, companies such as TransAlta and Capital Power began planning the conversion of their coal-fired power stations to burning natural gas.[31][32]

List of coal-fired power stations

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Lingan Generating Station, the largest coal-fired power station in Eastern Canada.

Only 8 operational coal-fired power stations remain as of June 2024 in Canada.

Name Province Coordinates Capacity
(MW) 		Owner Fuel Type Retirement Ref
Belledune   New Brunswick 47°54′21″N 65°51′48″W / 47.905962°N 65.863468°W / 47.905962; -65.863468 (Belledune) 458 NB Power Coal 2030 [33]
Boundary Dam   Saskatchewan 49°5′47″N 103°1′49″W / 49.09639°N 103.03028°W / 49.09639; -103.03028 (Boundary Dam) 672 SaskPower Lignite TBD [note 1]
Lingan   Nova Scotia 46°14′12″N 60°2′14″W / 46.23667°N 60.03722°W / 46.23667; -60.03722 (Lingan) 632.8 Nova Scotia Power Coal 2030 conversion to Number 6 fuel oil[35]
Point Aconi   Nova Scotia 46°19′18″N 60°19′48″W / 46.321633°N 60.329987°W / 46.321633; -60.329987 (Point Aconi) 165 Nova Scotia Power Coke (53%)
Coal (47%) 		2029 shutdown[36]
Point Tupper   Nova Scotia 45°35′13″N 61°20′53″W / 45.5869°N 61.3481°W / 45.5869; -61.3481 (Point Tupper) 148 Nova Scotia Power Coal 2029 conversion to natural gas[37]
Poplar River   Saskatchewan 49°3′27″N 105°28′59″W / 49.05750°N 105.48306°W / 49.05750; -105.48306 (Poplar River) 582 SaskPower Lignite 2030 [38]
Shand   Saskatchewan 49°5′16″N 102°51′49″W / 49.08778°N 102.86361°W / 49.08778; -102.86361 (Shand) 276 SaskPower Coal 2030 [note 2]
Trenton   Nova Scotia 45°37′13″N 62°38′53″W / 45.62028°N 62.64806°W / 45.62028; -62.64806 (Trenton) 305 Nova Scotia Power Coal 2029 shutdown[39]

List of decommissioned coal-fired power stations

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List of former electrical generating facilities in Canada that were coal fueled. Only facilities that have permanently shut down all of their electricity generating units are included.

Name Province Location Capacity
(MW) 		Fuel Type Owner In Commission Decommission Date Smokestack
configuration
[40][circular reference]
Battle River Generating Station   Alberta 52°28′08″N 112°08′02″W / 52.468889°N 112.133889°W / 52.468889; -112.133889 (Battle River) 56 Coal Heartland Generation 1998
Dalhousie   New Brunswick 48°03′07″N 66°22′15″W / 48.051919°N 66.370770°W / 48.051919; -66.370770 (Dalhousie (Demolished)) 315 Coal NB Power 1967 2012 167 m (551 ft) & 162 m (532 ft)
Grand Lake Generating Station   New Brunswick 46°03′26″N 66°00′18″W / 46.057244°N 66.005067°W / 46.057244; -66.005067 (Grand Lake) 57 Coal NB Power 1931 2010
Flavin's Lane   Newfoundland and Labrador 47°34′07″N 52°42′29″W / 47.568633°N 52.708150°W / 47.568633; -52.708150 (Flavin's Lane) 0.186 Coal St. John's Electric Light Co. 17 October 1885 8 July 1892 10 m (32 ft) ×1
Genesee   Alberta 53°20′35″N 114°18′11″W / 53.34306°N 114.30306°W / 53.34306; -114.30306 (Genesee) 1,286 Coal (81%)
Natural gas (19%) 		Capital Power (83.3%)
TransAlta (16.7%) 		2023 [note 3] 2024
H. R. Milner Generating Station   Alberta 54°00′27″N 119°06′11″W / 54.007470°N 119.103187°W / 54.007470; -119.103187 (H.R. Milner) 158 Coal Milner Power 2019
Hearn   Ontario 43°38.730′N 79°20.105′W / 43.645500°N 79.335083°W / 43.645500; -79.335083 1,200 Coal OPG 1951 1983 215 m (705 ft) ×1
Keephills Generating Station   Alberta 53°26′56″N 114°27′01″W / 53.448779°N 114.450256°W / 53.448779; -114.450256 (Keephills) 861 Coal Capital Power 2021
Lakeview   Ontario 43°34′16″N 79°33′6″W / 43.57111°N 79.55167°W / 43.57111; -79.55167 (Lakeview (Demolished)) 2,400 Coal OPG 1962 2005 150 m (492 ft) ×4
Lambton   Ontario 42°47′50″N 82°28′10″W / 42.79722°N 82.46944°W / 42.79722; -82.46944 (Lambton (Decommissioned)) 1,976 Coal OPG 1969 2013 168 m (550 ft) ×3
Nanticoke   Ontario 42°48′0″N 80°3′1″W / 42.80000°N 80.05028°W / 42.80000; -80.05028 (Nanticoke (Demolished)) 3,964 Coal OPG 1973 2013 198 m (650 ft) ×2
Sundance Power Station   Alberta 53°30′27″N 114°33′26″W / 53.50750°N 114.55722°W / 53.50750; -114.55722 812 Coal TransAlta 2021
Thunder Bay   Ontario 48°21′36″N 89°13′12″W / 48.36000°N 89.22000°W / 48.36000; -89.22000 (Thunder Bay (Decommissioned)) 306 Coal (1963-2014)
Biomass (2015-2018) 		OPG 1963 2018[43] 198 m (650 ft) & 107 m (350 ft)
Wabamun   Alberta 53°33′30″N 114°29′17″W / 53.55833°N 114.48806°W / 53.55833; -114.48806 (Wabamun (Demolished)) 582 Coal TransAlta 1956 2010 156 (512 ft) ×3

Notes

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  1. ^ Unit 3 will continue to operate as normal as it has carbon capture technology installed. Units 4 and 5 will be retired by 2022 and 2025, respectively. Unit 6 will either have carbon capture technology installed or be decommissioned at an unknown date.[34]
  2. ^ Installation of carbon capture technology by 2024 would allow the power station to operate until its originally planned decommissioning of 2042.[34]
  3. ^ Units 1 and 2 to burn 50% coal and 50% natural gas by spring 2021 and mid-2020, respectively. Unit 3 to burn 60% coal and 40% gas by spring 2020, and to be adjusted to a 50/50 ratio at a later date. The entire power station converted to 100% natural gas in 2024.[41][42]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ The Canadian Encyclopedia – Coal
  2. ^ Coal in Canada Archived 8 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Maps of coal in Canada[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ British Columbia Geological Survey Information Circular 2020-02 (PDF) (Report). British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. Retrieved 1 June 2020. The Quinsam mine on Vancouver Island ceased operations in June.
  5. ^ a b National Resources Canada – Coal Archived 16 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ CBC News on energy in Canada[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Government of Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada (December 2018). "A Just and Fair Transition for Canadian Coal Power Workers and Communities" (PDF). publications.gc.ca. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d e Morgan, Geoffrey (2 March 2015). "PDAC 2015: Canadian coal exports poised to jump after takeover of long-suffering Coalspur". Financial Post. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Coal in Canada | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  10. ^ a b c d e Bentein, Jim (1 April 2019). "Alberta coal mining activity rebounds in 2018". JWN Energy. Markets & Investment. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Overview of Canada's Coal Sector" (PDF). Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on 25 May 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. ^ a b c d e f "The Plans to Strip-Mine Coal in the Mountains". Alberta Views – The Magazine for Engaged Citizens. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  13. ^ Mossop, G.D. and Shetsen, I. (compilers), Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists (1994). "The Geological Atlas of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, Chapter 24: Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary strata of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin". Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ a b c d e f g Fletcher, Robson; Drew, Anderson; Omstead, Jordan (7 July 2020). "Bringing coal back: Alberta's new bet on an old fuel". Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  15. ^ Mackay, B.R. 1949. Coal areas of Alberta. Geological Survey of Canada, Atlas to accompany estimate of coal reserves for the Royal Commission on Coal.
  16. ^ Prior, G. J.; Hathaway, B.; Glombick, P.M.; Pana, D.I.; Banks, C.J.; Hay, D.C.; Schneider, C.L.; Grobe, M.; Elgr, R. & Weiss, J.A. (2013). "Bedrock Geology of Alberta. Alberta Geological Survey, Map 600". Archived from the original on 26 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  17. ^ Glass, D.J. (editor) 1997. Lexicon of Canadian Stratigraphy, vol. 4, Western Canada including eastern British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, Calgary, 1423 p. on CD-ROM. ISBN 0-920230-23-7.
  18. ^ a b "Phasing out coal". alberta.ca. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  19. ^ a b c d Mines, Ministry of Energy and. "Overview of coal in BC – Province of British Columbia". Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  20. ^ Paula Baker (10 June 2013). "The Coal Facts: thermal coal vs. metallurgical coal". Global News. Archived from the original on 13 June 2013.
  21. ^ "Coking-Steel Production Alternatives". Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  22. ^ "How Steel Is Produced". 14 December 2020.
  23. ^ "Coke Production for Blast Furnace Ironmaking". Archived from the original on 8 February 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  24. ^ "Refurbished Bruce approaching full strength". www.world-nuclear-news.org. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  25. ^ Wilson, Jennifer (25 September 2007), Ontario's power crunch: What's the answer?, CBC News, retrieved 6 September 2010
  26. ^ "Archived copy". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  27. ^ a b Macklin, Andrew (12 September 2012). "OPG Atikokan burns its last piece of coal". Canadian Biomass Magazine. Atikokan, Ontario. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  28. ^ a b "Generating station returns to grid with advanced biomass". TBNewsWatch.com. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  29. ^ "NB Power seeks new fuel source for Belledune Generating Station". nbpower.com. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  30. ^ Naidu-Ghelani, Rajeshni (21 May 2019). "Canada a leader among G20 for plan to phase out coal, says report". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  31. ^ "Coal-to-Gas Conversions Project". TransAlta. 2019. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  32. ^ "Dual-Fuel Flexibility". Capital Power. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  33. ^ "NB Power seeks new fuel source for Belledune Generating Station". nbpower.com. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  34. ^ a b "Saskatchewan reaches deal with Ottawa on coal-burning power plants". CBC News. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  35. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-power-plans-to-burn-heavy-fuel-oil-1.6895930 [bare URL]
  36. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-power-plans-to-burn-heavy-fuel-oil-1.6895930 [bare URL]
  37. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-power-plans-to-burn-heavy-fuel-oil-1.6895930 [bare URL]
  38. ^ McElroy, Daniel. "Impending Power Plant Closure Means Trying Times Ahead for Coronach". SwiftCurrentOnline.com. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  39. ^ Withers, Paul (4 July 2023). "Nova Scotia Power plans to burn heavy fuel oil at phased-out coal plants". CBC News. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  40. ^ List of tallest structures in Canada#Tallest smokestacks/chimneys in Canada
  41. ^ "Capital Power commits to gas co-firing at Genesee plant". spglobal.com. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  42. ^ "Alberta set to retire coal power by 2023, ahead of 2030 provincial deadline". Global News. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  43. ^ Ontario Power Generation, Thunder Bay Generating Station, archived from the original on 12 January 2010, retrieved 21 August 2010
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