Carabella, which has increased in value almost five times since listing on the Australian Securities Exchange in December, has also recruited the former managing director of AMOCO Australia, Andrew Amer.
Carabella’s tenements lie to the west of BHP Billiton-Mitsubishi Alliance’s Goonyella coking coal mine and the company is hoping to be in production within two years.
Chairman Michael Addison said the new directors added comprehensive mining industry experience to the board at a time when the company was focused on moving towards the commercialisation of its Grosvenor West JORC coking coal resource.
“With over 25 years experience, Rick is a very prominent Queensland miner who is well known in the industry,” Addison said.
“His senior management roles include a period as president of BHP Coal in Queensland, where he was responsible for the financial and operational performance of nine mines producing more than 50 million tonnes of coal per annum.
“Rick’s extensive skills add to those of our current managing director, Mitch Jakeman, who was effectively his counterpart as former head of operations at Anglo Coal Australia.
“I see Rick’s decision to join our board as an affirmation of Carabella’s credibility in its aim to become a prominent Bowen Basin coking coal producer.”
Gazzard was general manager of Camberwell Coal from 1989 until he moved back to BHP in 1998, being appointed group general manager BHP Queensland Coal northern operations, then in 1999 moving into the position of president of BHP Queensland Coal, where he was responsible for seven open cut and two underground coal mines and the Hay Point port facility, with combined revenues in excess of $3.5 billion.
Since leaving BHP in 2001, Gazzard has concentrated on building his agricultural and hotel interests. During that time he has continued consulting to the mining industry and is currently a director of Stratcon Holdings, a privately owned contract civil and mining company operating in New Zealand and Peru.
Amer is an experienced company director, having worked extensively with multinational companies at a strategic level.
