BCB can upgrade low cost, low rank coals and coal fines into more valuable, higher energy yielding briquettes.

In its annual report, White Energy said the BCB technology also provided an attractive solution for coal producers seeking to maximise mine yield.

"Several active opportunities are being discussed with mine owners globally to recover coal from what is currently a waste material that is considered to be an environmental liability, and convert it to a valuable, low moisture coal product," it said.

"In South Africa alone, it is estimated that there is more than 1 billion tonnes of discard coal in tailings facilities, much of which will eventually need to be reclaimed."

White Energy operates demonstration and pilot plants at Cessnock in New South Wales as a key testing and training facility.

"Coal samples from mines in Australia, South Africa, North America, India and China have been processed at the Cessnock facility to test for their responsiveness to the BCB process," the company said.

It said its 51%-owned subsidiary, River Energy JV, would continue to pursue opportunities through its 49% owner, Proterra Investment Partners, with a number of South African coal miners interested in its BCB.

"Extensive testing by River Energy, involving sampling and testing on site, briquetting trials at White Energy's Cessnock commercial demonstration facility, combustion trials on test facilities in Australia and South Africa, and a significant materials handling and combustion trial on a commercial power plant in South Africa, has demonstrated that a saleable export grade coal product can be produced from South African reject tailings," White Energy said.