PERTH (miningweekly.com) - ASX-listed Cougar Energy on Tuesday told shareholders that it would progress with its appeal against the Queensland government’s Department of Environment and Resource Management, which closed down the Kingaroy coal gasification site in July last year.

The appeal was aimed at challenging amendments to its permits, which require the Kingaroy site to be decommissioned.

The miner also launched a A$34-million lawsuit against the state and three of its employees, claiming negligence and breach of statutory duties in the administration of the Queensland Environment Protection Act.

During December last year, Cougar’s attempt to stay the decommissioning and rehabilitation of the underground cavity at Kingaroy, while it made its appeal, was rejected by the Queensland Planning and Environment Court.

Cougar Energy said on Tuesday that a directions hearing for the appeal was due on March 1, at which time the company would seek to set the final timetable and have the full hearing set down before the Queensland Planning and Environment Court, at the earliest possible date.

The company would not be appealing the court’s December decision against a stay, saying that while it disputed the interlocutory decision, it had no relevance or bearing upon the appeal in which full expert evidence may be led on all relevant issues.

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