JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Former Anglo Platinum (Angloplat) executive John Dreyer has been appointed as the chairperson of coal junior Firestone Energy, the ASX- and JSE-listed firm announced on Monday.

Dreyer’s appointment as nonexecutive chairperson of the Perth-based company is effective immediately.

“We are extremely pleased to have someone with John’s leadership and experience take on this role and his considerable mining and corporate experience will be invaluable as Firestone Energy continues to develop its South African projects," said CEO Garth Higgo.

Firestone and its South African joint-venture (JV) partner, Sekoko Coal, are developing coal projects in the Waterberg region. The JV plans to start a small-scale mining operation, producing 30 000 t/m, before the end of the year. A large-scale openpit mining operation will start in 2011.

Dreyer is a lawyer by profession and has held a number of senior executive positions through his career, including the position of executive director of business development at Anglplat. When he retired from the platinum giant in 2004, he joined Pangea DiamondFields as a director and shareholder.

He is also a former MD of Shell South Africa and a former director of the Richards Bay Coal Terminal.

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