An Australia-based miner says its drilling efforts in a 1.5 square kilometre-area in Papua New Guinea have revealed there is enough high quality coal to run a 50-megawatt power station for 30 years.
Vailala River, Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea. Photo: Mayur Resources
Mayur Resources has rights to explore a 120 km stretch of land in Gulf Province, close to the Purari and Vailala rivers.
Its chief executive officer Paul Mulder told Business Advantage PNG , that if his company keeps drilling as it intends to, the next five to 15 kilometres will reveal tens of millions of tonnes of coal.
He adds that the coal is some of the cleanest coal in the world, with low ash and sulphur levels.
The company is planning for the mine to be open cast, shallow at the surface, using local workers to provide the majority of the support required, he says.
Mr Mulder says a 50-megwatt power station would help fulfil the government's stated aim of providing electricity to 70% of the country, from the current level of 11%.