Aurion Energy, the Australian resources company, will apply for a mining lease to develop a controversial lignite coal-mine in Northern Ireland.
The company, also listed on London's Alternative Investment Market, has a prospecting licence for 123 sq m of land near Ballymoney in Co Antrim.
AuIron Energy wants to develop a lignite-fuelled power station at the site. It says initial studies show the proposed lignite mine could deliver 660 million tonnes, enough to power the station for 30 years. The firm says the lignite station would provide competitive fuel generation in the North for the first time and also supply significant energy resources to the South via the cross-Border interconnectors.
Previous lignite proposals have met strong environmental opposition in Northern Ireland. The Anglo Pacific Group recently withdrew two applications for mineral prospecting licences for lignite in the western shore area of Lough Neagh in the face of massive community opposition.
Local campaigners claim open-cast lignite mining causes irreparable damage to rural areas and has a major impact on the environment.
AuIron Energy maintains its proposed mine would produce low sulphur coal and all power station ash would be returned to the mine.
In its quarterly report to shareholders this month AuIron Energy said: "The first two phases are on schedule for completion in the March 2002 quarter. The third phase will involve obtaining the project approvals for planning, development and operations.
"RPS Environmental Sciences Ltd has been engaged and is preparing the environmental base line study to support the approval process."
