The updated resource statement for Celsius’ project includes total inferred JORC resources of 295 million tonnes.

The total inferred resource estimate comprises 235Mt at Kargasha and 60Mt at Kokkia.

It represents a growth in total resource of 40Mt, approximately 16% over the prior 2013 resource statement.

“Much of the aim of this year’s drilling program was the first exploratory work in the Kokkia area of the Uzgen Basin coking coal project,” Celsius technical director Alistair Muir said.

“We’re very happy with the 140% increase in inferred resource in this area of the deposit and this builds upon the favourable coal quality data we have received for the drilling works to date, both at Kokkia and Kargasha.”

The company has significantly grown its resource level based on the second year of diamond drilling and has completed the first year of drilling and coal quality testing for the Kokkia deposit.

The work completed over the previous exploration season continues to show the potential of the Uzgen Basin as a major Central Asian coking coal resource.

The results showed consistent quality with continuing very low moisture, low ash, low phosphorus and moderate sulphur.