Nichols has 22 -years of senior exploration and mining experience, mostly at Anglo Coal.

Managing director Nick Jorss said Nichols experience in geological modeling and JORC reporting would be put to good use.

“We are delighted to secure someone of Wes’s talent and coal industry experience,” he said.

“Wes will play an instrumental role in bringing our exciting coal projects to fruition over the coming years, and his experience in the exploration and evaluation of projects will complement that of the outstanding Stanmore geological team.”

Since 2008 Nichols was geology manager at New Hope Coal, where he was responsible for the operational management of New Hope’s exploration activities, including three company drill rigs.

Before that he spent 18 years at Anglo Coal, performing senior exploration and mining roles, which involved the management of geological and geophysical programs at the Callide mine as well as other exploration areas in Queensland.

Nichols will also play a key role in implementing and overseeing Stanmore Coal’s safety program.

Stanmore Coal was recently granted another tenement for its Kerlong underground coking coal project in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, with the expanded project area within 5 kilometres of a lease held by Vale’s Carborough Downs longwall mine.