ORCP23 Jul 2012 14:38
Oracle Coalfields PLC (Oracle) is an AIM listed coal mining and exploration company with significant coal resources. It intends to use this coal as a sustainable energy resource in Pakistan – agreements are in place for construction of a power plant adjacent to the mine – and within industry. This year alone Oracle has, among over developments, received a full mining licence over its coalfield, and completed a Technical Feasibility Study that confirmed considerable coal reserves.
The Opportunity
Oracle has an 80% interest in the Block VI licence of the Thar Coalfield, Sindh Province, Pakistan. This is a potential resource of 1,400 million wet tonnes (Mwt) of coal, including a 529Mwt JORC resource, and a 113Mwt JORC proven reserve (following the mining lease issuance) – the latter forming phase 1 of the project. Pakistan has a critical power shortage, with regular power cuts occurring in Karachi. Oracle intends to exploit this opportunity. It signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Karachi Electric Supply Company that plans to build a mine-mouth power station in Block VI, and established Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with major Pakistan cement producer, Lucky Cement.
Continual Developments
Oracle moved from the PLUS stock exchange to the AIM market in 2011, where it raised £3 million in an oversubscribed placing. This has been used to fund further exploration and for working capital. In August 2011 the management team was strengthened by the appointment of Adrian Loader as Chairman, which has enabled previous Chairman, Shahrukh Khan, to focus on his role as CEO. In February 2012 a Technical Feasibility Study (TFS) was announced, which highlighted coal reserves of 113Mwt (phase 1), predicted production rates of 5Mwt p.a., and confirmed the coal’s suitability for power generation. Finally, in April 2012, the Block VI exploration licence was upgraded to a mining licence.