Tancoal, which transitioned from development to production over the last year, has rapidly accelerated its output in recent months, having sold 16,000 tonnes of coal in the June quarter compared to 5400t in the prior quarter.

Tancoal currently has the equipment capacity to produce 30,000t per month of coal and is used exclusively as a regional supplier.

Intra’s exploration spending during the quarter was $US312,000 versus to $140,000 in the same period last year as the company drilled 349 holes at the Mbalawala tenements on Tanzania’s Lake Malawi and completed first-phase drilling at the Ngaka coalfield outside the southeastern city of Songea.

Two rigs have been mobilised at the Mbuyura-Mkapa lease area and a coal laboratory was ordered to analyse future samples.

Further exploration is expected to include small-scale drilling at Kabulo in the Tanzacoal mining lease and initial scouting activities in Laos.

Intra also said it was increasing its marketing initiatives to secure Tancoal customers in surrounding countries such as Malawi, Uganda and Kenya.