Chang’s responsibilities will include planning and analyzing for the company, as well as overseeing L&L’s coal operations.

"We are very excited to have Dr Chang on board to oversee our daily operations, particularly in light of our plans to double the activity in our coal mining and washing operations this year," chief executive officer Dickson Lee said.

"[His] advanced operations background and knowledge of the coal industry is tremendously beneficial as we look to implement a computer-based logistics model that will maximize our operating efficiency and increase profit margins at the company."

Chang brings more than three decades of operational and administrative experience to L&L, including his background in the Australian coal industry.

The University of Houston graduate previously served as a professor and vice-president of China University of Science and Technology in Taiwan.

In May, L&L selected global industry veteran Syd Peng to serve as a consultant as the company strengthened its energy operations.

Peng, a West Virginia University mining engineering educator, specializes in underground mining technologies.

The company also chose Wall Street veteran Robert Okun last month as the company’s advisor to assist in its strategic planning.

Managing director of The Seaport Group, he has 20 years of financial experience including UBS AG and JP Morgan.

In addition to its new Ping Li coal washing facility announced earlier this month, Seattle-headquartered L&L Energy currently operates three mines in China as well as two coal washing facilities, a coking coal facility, and a coal consolidation and wholesale business in the Yunnan and Guizhou provinces.

L&L International changed its name to L&L Energy in late 2008.