A feasibility study shows that the mine has reserves of some 190 million tonnes of coal and average annual production could be two million tonnes.

The company holds a 50-year mining license, granted in 2008, to extract coal from the project.

New World Resources said it remains on track to break ground at the project site before the end of this year.

Last year, the company applied for an amendment to this license for mining the additional coal seams at Debiensko.

Approval for this is now expected by mid-2012 following the completion of the environmental review.