The renewed exploration target was yielded following a 2011 drilling program undertaken by White Energy’s subsidiary South Australian Coal.

The drilling program comprised an additional 688 drillholes in the Lake Phillipson coal deposit

The previous coal exploration target was completed by Utah Development in 1982.

Following the latest drilling program at the tenement, the total JORC coal resource now stands at around 1.13 billion tonnes, an increase of 446.2 million tonnes on the previous JORC coal resource as defined in March 2011.

The JORC resource estimates are limited to a 10:1 strip ratio shell and a 0.5m seam thickness cut-off.

As a result of the 2011 exploration, the main basin resource has increased by 89% and the west basin resource has increased by 32%.

Following the JORC resource upgrade, White Energy is in the process of developing conceptual mine plans on two of the most prospective coal areas within EL4534, which in turn will enable White Energy to commence preparation of feasibility studies for future development options.

White Energy is now analysing options for commercialising the Lake Phillipson resource.

Options include mining and selling the coal to domestic power stations, coal gasification opportunities in the South Australian market or alternatively upgrading and exporting the coal using the company’s binderless coal briquetting technology.