Managed by the company under the direction of its Canadian operations managing director Roger Baer, the first phase of the drilling and sampling program to determine quantity and quality and measure PCI characteristics will include 10 drill core holes.

SGS will then conduct a comprehensive laboratory analysis to determine the coal’s properties and categorise the measured and indicated reserves, it said.

“We want to expand the 43-101 report prepared by Weir International,” said West Hawk executive vice-president of engineering Andrew Schissler of the project’s next steps.

“The exploration program will adhere to the highest best practice engineering standards.”

Moving forward over the next several weeks, the company said equipment for drilling will be moved into the area while its permit applications, which were submitted last month, are moved from their current stage of referral and into approval.

It expects the go-ahead to come “shortly” so that drilling can commence during the late North American summer.

West Hawk added that it has outlined a four-seasons baseline environmental study to be performed over the next 12 months and has “no interest” in coal bed methane as part of its plans for Groundhog’s exploration and development.

The company said in May it had selected Weir for another one of its upcoming projects, a new acquisition in Oklahoma and Arkansas.

The Illinois consultant will perform an independent reserve study for the property as part of West Hawk’s due diligence procedure for a business venture with FEV announced earlier this year.