Decker Coal Mine
The Decker coal mine (Decker) is situated in the north-western section of the Powder River Basin. Located within Big Horn County in the state of Montana, the project consists of two distinct areas, East Decker and West Decker.
The West and East Decker mines were started in the 1970s as two separate mining operations which came together under the Decker Coal Company in the late 1980s. Since the commencement of operations at both, the mines have produced approximately 330 million tons of coal. The mines are serviced by BNSF Railway with two rail loops and load out facilities, one for each mine.
Ownership of the mines is now a 50/50 joint venture between Ambre Energy and Cloud Peak Energy, with Ambre Energy responsible for operating the mine and marketing the coal.
The Decker mine produces approximately three million short tons of low ash, low sulphur, sub-bituminous coal each year which is currently sold into the domestic thermal market. An independent JORC-compliant assessment indicates a sizable resource of 415.6 million short tons remained at Decker as at 19 May 2010.
| Resource Category | Resource Estimate |
| Measured | 204.6 million short tons |
| Indicated | 126.o million short tons |
| Inferred | 85.0 million short tons |
| Total | 415.6 million short tons |
*The Resources estimate is based on information compiled by Dr. Ian Stone, who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (102087). Dr. Stone is Manager, Geology of Palaris Mining Pty Ltd. He has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person, as defined in the 2004 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Dr. Stone has over 30 years experience in exploration and mining of coal deposits. Dr. Stone consents to the inclusion of this Resource Estimate in reports disclosed by the Company in the form in which it appears.
Ambre Energy will be seeking to strengthen relationships with existing customers and explore opportunities for additional domestic sales. The company also intends ultimately to increase coal production to take advantage of demand for coal from North Asian customers via Ambre Energy’s port infrastructure in the US west coast region.
