Astra Resources is one of only a handful of Australian companies exploring the Nigerian coal market, providing investors an exposure to a country developing coal fired power plants and revitalising the local coal mining industry. Astra Resources is one of only a handful of Australian companies exploring the Nigerian coal market, providing investors an exposure to a country developing coal-fired power plants and revitalising the local coal mining industry.

Diversified mining company Astra Resources PLC which is the UK parent company of Astra Mining, is continuing with its global expansion at speed.

The latest installment of Astra's growth includes the finalization of a joint venture agreement covering Nigerian thermal coal sites, with the company already undertaking geological investigation.

The agreement, signed through Astra’s subsidiary Muyiwa Pte Ltd, gives the company a super-majority ownership of Barjalex Nig Ltd, an African company that owns a coal exploration license covering the Manejo and Odele communities in the Ika District of Ankpa Local Government in Kogi State, three kilometres south of Ogboyaga.

A geological study will soon commence and compare the licensed area with previous JORC standard reports for the Ogboyaga coal district as well as the pre-feasibility and costs for local mining and logistics for export and internal markets.

The resulting report on the geological investigation to be conducted should reveal a coal JORC Inferred Resource within the area and will also include proposed exploration drilling points for core drilling which will be required for ascertaining the Measured Resource estimation of the deposit.

Dr Jaydeep Biswas CEO of Astra said that undertaking these investigations will allow the company to complete one of the exploration exercises required for the fulfilling of a mining lease application. He added that “The geological investigation of the Barjalex coal properties is estimated to take 30 to 45 days with a total of five geologists.”

Dr Biswas said that “The study is prior to drilling and the exercise should be able to lead us to an inferred estimation of the coal resource within the area owing to the proximity of the site to the Ogboyaga coal field where previous studies for the area are available to support the work. Drilling will increase the geological confidence of the site to a proven reserve level and the work will form part of the report that will be used to assess the qualification of the Barjalex exploration licenses for a mining lease.”

(Sourced from www.proactiveinvestors.com.au)