A coal mining project initiated by Liu Naishun, a Chinese-Canadian man whose ancestors were originally from Shanxi, has recently gained approval from the Government of Canada, marking the first overseas coal mining project by a Chinese company, according to a Dec 18 Shanxi Evening News report.

The project, established in British Columbia, will be co-developed by Beijing Huiyong Group and Canada’s Dehua International Mines Group. The coal mine is expected to produce 6 million tons of coking coal annually.

Founded in 2004 by Liu Naishun, Canadian Dehua International Mines Group (CDI) is an integrated coal and metal investment and exploration company. The company has been active in developing resources from coking coal, copper, gold and iron ore in Canada.