Syngas is a combination of carbon monoxide, nitrogen, hydrogen and methane.

Leigh Creek Energy plans to operate its Pre-Commercial Development plant to produce syngas and show that it can operate the gasifier safely and environmentally responsibly.

It will also use the PCD to gather information for the development of its commercial plant.

While the electricity market seems the most obvious use for the syngas - and that would mark Leigh Creek's return to its roots in a way - it could also be used to ammonia and urea or other petrochemical products.

"This significant company milestone unlocks a large energy resource and enables the company to quickly move toward having this resource upgraded to reserve status by the end of the fourth quarter 2018," Leigh...