The seam is believed to extend for a “significant distance”

The company’s preliminary greenfield exploration program, under the direction of Indonesian geologist Dr Maran Gulton, began in January.

The team was exploring one of Orpheus’s four Papua tenements, its 49,340ha concession PT Daya Mega Pelita in the Waropen district.

Previous investigations had identified coal outcrops near the concession boundaries.

The exploration team focused on the northeastern section of the large concession that generally follows the Watoa river and drainage system.

Preliminary analysis of the coal sample, undertaken by PT Geoservices’ laboratory in Banjarbaru in South Kalimantan showed it had characteristics similar to that of South Kalimantan coal.

This part of Papua has little in the way of infrastructure and services.

The exploration team used a combination of inter-island ferries, local coastal speed boats, 4WD trucks and foot transportation to undertake the traverse. This involved several weeks of walking along the banks of the main Watoa River and prospecting the river banks for coal outcrops.

More detailed exploration of the area will be undertaken.

Orpheus executive chairman Wayne Mitchell said that while it was early days the discovery was “exciting”

“Papua has the potential to be a new coal province, in many ways similar to South Kalimantan 20 years ago, and Orpheus is at the forefront of that potential development.