Ncondezi Coal this morning unveiled a major overhaul of its board, including the appointment of a new chairman and chief executive, ahead of the development of its coal project in Mozambique’s Tete Province

The move is in line with the company’s strategic objective to diversify its coal mining operations geographically and into the higher margin coking coal market, and it will complement its existing thermal coal mining, development and exploration projects in South Africa.

Strategic Natural Resources today announced a strengthening of its agreement with commodity trader Trasteel International - with the formation of a new joint venture marketing company.

Shares in Atlantic Coal rose strongly after it announced a railroad diversion into its Stockton colliery in Pennsylvania had been completed. Separately the firm's operational performance is said to be 'excellent'.

Atlantic Coal said completion of a railroad diversion into its Stockton colliery in Pennsylvania now gives the group access to one million tonnes of previously unworkable reserves.

Oracle Coalfields's bid to develop Pakistan's first major coal mine was boosted today - as it was issued a mining lease for a block on the Thar coalfield by the country's government.

Churchill says it has been subjected to a sustained campaign to expropriate its rights as a legitimate foreign investor in Indonesia. It’s now looking to international arbitration as it appears set to lose an appeal in Jakarta’s Supreme Court.

With the help of chief executive Graham Mascall we take a closer look at this up-and-coming coal exploration company.

Oracle Coalfields said the results of the feasibility study on its Thar Coalfield in Pakistan’s Sindh Province underlined its “technical and economic viability”.

In an interview with Proactive Investors, chief executive David Nel explained that SNR is in dialogue with many potential funding partners, looking at a combination of debt, equity and forward sales of coal.

Oracle Coalfields (LON:ORCP) has drafted in a blue-chip adviser to help with its bid to commercialise the 1.4 billion-tonne Thar Coalfield, in Pakistan’s Sindh Province.

The South African coal miner plans to increase its production from a current two million tonnes of coal to seven million tonnes within two years by developing several mines

Oracle Coalfields confirmed today that it is still on track to complete a definitive feasibility study on Block VI of the Thar Coalfield in Pakistan by the end of the current quarter.

The company has bolstered its plans to supply coal from its Elitheni coal project in South Africa with a new £1.9 million share placing. Its largest shareholder - Cooch 1095 Ltd - is acquiring all 10 million shares issued in the placing, which was priced at 19 pence a share - a 38 per cent premium to yesterday's closing price of 13.75 pence.

Shares in Atlantic were up 10 per cent this afternoon after the firm revealed it had boosted production at its colliery in Pennsyvlania. Atlantic aims to produce 300,000 tonnes of run-of-mine coal from Stockton in 2011.

Oracle Coalfields (LON:ORCP) looks to be stepping up a gear as it looks to bring its flagship coal project in Pakistan to production. City research firm Edison for one is encouraged by progress to date and reckons the outlook for the company is promising.  

Coal producer Caledon Resources is pressing ahead with the long-awaited acquisition of the company by China's investment firm Guangdong Rising Assets Management Co (GRAM), it emerged today.

Oracale Coalfields has flown below the radar since its listing on AIM. But behind the scenes considerable progress is being made, says chief execucutive Shahrukh Khan.

Shares in Churchill Mining shot up more than 40 per cent in opening deals after it was revealed that the group is bringing on board two Indonesian partners who are subscribing for £7.7 million-worth of shares.

The company this morning unveiled the eagerly anticipated first off-take deal, with Lugano-based Trasteel. SNR says more will follow.

The last six months have seen shares in Strategic Natural Resources (LON:SNRP) more than double in value. Today the South African coal miner unveiled plans that should help reveal its true potential: a US$2.5 million drilling campaign designed to significantly increase the coal resource base. 

Strategic Natural Resources was dubbed an ‘unknown gem’ of the micro-cap market by Evolution Securities, which this morning initiated coverage of the company with a buy recommendation. Veteran mining analyst Charles Kernot values the shares at 49 pence each. The bullish circular had an instant effect on SNRP, which advanced 2.12 pence, or 11 per cent to 20.88 pence a share.

It has been a difficult week for Churchill Mining, which has been caught up in a legal battle in Indonesia. A regional administrative tribunal ruled against the company, which has been trying to protect the legal standing of its mining licences for the East Kutai coal project – a 2.73 billion tonne coal resources. Churchill has already announced it is appealing the decision. Below chairman David Quinlivan answers our questions about the litigation.

Supply shortages in China and the voracious appetite of India have set the scene for a strong decade for the coal market, according to the Nomura Equity Research’s mining team. Here we look at some of the junior coal miners setting the market alight.

It would appear that Atlantic Coal’s new excavator is continuing to boost production. Total sales of anthracite for the December quarter were 31,600 tons, according to a note released today by the broker Fox-Davies.

Sydney broker StoneBridge Securities has penned a research report on recently listed Universal Coal and is bullish on the prospects for this near term coal producer.

Atlantic Coal received a boost as it revealed that investment giant Blackrock has reversed its stance on the AIM-listed digger with assets in Pennsylvania. It was announced this morning that Blackrock will buy 75 million new shares in the company at a price of 0.4p, raising its stake from 3.47 per cent to 7.24 per cent. 

It has been a busy and eventful year for the company and CEO Steve Best as he has dealt with a series of obstacles and legacy issues.  The new year looks set for some good strategic progress as the Stockton mine in Pennsylvanie is taking advantage of strong demand for coal.

After successfully raising A$20 million at A$0.26 per share in its IPO on ASX, Universal Coal will complete a BFS at Kangala and commence thermal coal production by mid 2011.  Targeted ROM thermal coal production is 3mtpa within 12 months.