Hedley, who has over 30 years experience in coal mining, primarily in Newcastle, Illawarra and the Bowen Basin, will take over from Rod Austin, who will move into the role of finance director.

“In order to aid the prospect of successfully developing coal mines in the near term, Endocoal needed to broaden the skill base in its senior management team,” Endocoal chairman Alan Broome said.

“The current progress of preparation of a mining lease application and the appointment of Tim Hedley assists in the objective of having a mine up and running at Orion Downs by 2013.

“By harnessing the different but complementary skills of Tim and Rod, the Endocoal board is confident that the three-product strategy can be successfully implemented.”

Hedley has worked as a mine manager and general manager of various BHP mines in New South Wales and Queensland, including the Gregory, Crinum, Blackwater, Moura and South Walker Creek mines in the Bowen Basin, and as mine operations adviser to Tarong Energy on its coal mining operations.

He also coordinated Tarong’s team for exploration, coal quality and structure modelling, assessment of coal properties, pit design, infrastructure, mine scheduling, and capital and operating cost modelling.

As CEO of Endocoal, Hedley will be based in Brisbane and will oversee the company’s Queensland-based staff.

Austin will oversee the commercial activities of the company, including arranging project finance and negotiating with potential offtake and joint venture parties.

“This is a significant and exciting time for Endocoal. Rod and his team have put together an impressive tenement portfolio,” Hedley said.

“I am looking forward to working with the board and management to move quickly upstream from being a successful coal explorer to becoming a mine operator.

“Early initiation and successful implementation of a mine development program will add real value for shareholders.”

Endocoal’s three-product strategy builds on the success of the Orion Downs scoping study; the announcement of further drilling at Rockwood, where the company has a 50-80 million tonnes exploration target; and the joint acquisition by Carabella Resources and Endocoal of the Pretoria Hill tenement, Broome said.

“As one of the largest coal tenement holders in the Bowen Basin with over 5000 square kilometres, Endocoal is well positioned to become a multi-mine and multi-product company in the medium term,” he said.