JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – John Wallington would step down as coal junior Firestone Energy MD on June 15, the ASX- and JSE-listed company announced on Friday.

Wallington joined Firestone in November, to lead the bankable feasibility study (BFS) of the Waterberg coal project, in South Africa.

The BFS would be completed in July, and Firestone said that was expected to show that a viable mine could be established.

"Wallington will continue to be a board member and will devote such time as is necessary to complete the BFS," Firestone said in a statement.

The board had started a process to appoint a successor to Wallington, who would advance the company to the production state.

Firestone and its joint-venture partner, Sekoko Coal, are planning to start a small mining operation, which would provide a starter pit for a large scale mine, in 2011.

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