Pricewaterhouse Coopers has been hired to secure more investment in, or the sale of, southern Queensland coal gasification company Cougar Energy.

Cougar's pilot plant at Kingaroy in the South Burnett was permanently shut down last month over environmental concerns. The company said that it intends to appeal against that decision.

In a statement to the Australian stock exchange, the company said that it has engaged Pricewaterhouse to approach other companies to see if they want to invest in or buy Cougar.