The Orion Downs project has a 51.4 million tonne JORC resource of export-quality, direct shipping ore thermal coal.

In the company’s latest investor presentation, Endocoal said it expected Orion Downs, which is comprised of Meteor Downs South, to be in operation by the second half of 2013.

A bankable feasibility study for the project is underway, as is an environment management plan to support the granting of a mining lease in the second half of 2012.

Meteor Downs South is targeting 1.5-1.9 million tonnes per annum of coal with a rail load-out facility set to deliver the coal onto the Bauhinia rail line.

Endocoal listed a number of objectives for the 2011-12 financial year, including the delivery of its Meteor Downs South project evaluation.

The company hoped to undertake additional drilling in the initial discovery area of its Rockwood tenements, to shift the indicated and inferred resource to measured and indicated status.

It will also undertake negotiations with QR National for rail access to the Bauhinia spur line from Orion Downs to the Blackwater system and Gladstone port.

Further exploration will be conducted on the company’s Essex, Springton, Nebo and Stockyard Creek tenements.

Endocoal has a number of prospective tenements in the Bowen Basin, with its Rockwood and Orion Downs tenements being its flagship projects.

Earlier in the year, Endocoal completed a $12 million capital raising and welcomed equity groups AMCI Capital and Macquarie Capital as new shareholders.

The funds are being directed towards continued planning for Meteor Downs South, further drilling at Rockwood as well as commencing exploration at its other Bowen Basin projects.