An engineer by trade, Murray has over 30 years of international operating experience in the coal industry and also served as chairman for the World Coal Institute.

Also taking the role of non-executive director will be Ted Mayers, a chartered accountant who previously worked as chief financial officer for Lundin mining.

The appointments follow the resignations of company directors Ian Middlemas and Mark Pearce.

Coalspur chairman Colin Steyn said management restructuring was required to get the Vista project into operation.

“As Coalspur enters the next phase of its corporate development, now is the appropriate time to strengthen the board further with some additional operational experience and Canadian capital market expertise in order to position Coalspur to successfully bring the Vista project into production,” he said.

The project is targeting a 31-year mine life for 9 million tonnes per annum of saleable thermal coal production.

A bankable feasibility study on the project started in April 2011 and is scheduled for completion in December.