OREANDA-NEWS. Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. (SES) (NASDAQ:SYMX), a global leader in the clean and efficient production of low-cost synthesis gas for high value energy and chemical products, today announced that its Australian platform company, Australian Future Energy Pty Ltd (AFE), has successfully closed the acquisition of the 270MM metric ton (MT) JORC compliant thermal coal resource, near Pentland, Queensland. The acquisition was completed on August 18, 2017, through AFE’s wholly owned subsidiary, Great Northern Energy Pty Ltd (GNE). SES is a 40% owner of AFE.

This coal resource is AFE’s second successful foray into securing long-term coal supply for its projects, following the successful formation and spin-off of Batchfire Resources, which acquired the Queensland-based Callide Mine operations in 2016. AFE’s business plan is to secure access to low-cost coal, coal waste and biomass resources, required to produce the energy and chemical products for its clean energy projects under development.

SES Gasification Technology (SGT) affords AFE the capability to utilize low-cost, unmarketable coals generated in the coal mining process, together with biomass, to build projects that are both environmentally responsible and economically advantaged over utilizing expensive natural gas.

“Together with SES we intend to be an industry leader in delivering clean, low-cost energy.  The acquisition of the coal resource at Pentland is an important step in our comprehensive plan to develop, finance and construct economically attractive projects that uniquely meet the needs of Australia on all fronts, by providing a lower cost alternative to natural gas, creating numerous attractive job opportunities, and demonstrating leading environmental responsibility,” said AFE Executive Director, Edek Choros.

Mr. Choros further added, “AFE is currently in the process of filing for the Queensland government approval of a start-up mine for the Pentland resource. Within the next 24 months we intend to start export coal sales and later utilize coal waste, together with renewable biomass, for an SGT energy project in the Townsville area.”

SES President and CEO, Ms. DeLome Fair, commented: “AFE is pursuing its strategy of connecting important feedstock resources to its portfolio of project developments underway, which are intended to manufacture a variety of products, such as fertilizers, power, and fuel gas, in a very clean and low carbon manner, while simultaneously delivering positive financial performance. This includes a combination of undertakings to generate near-term earnings, alongside its large-scale clean energy project developments now underway. 

“We believe our 40% ownership in the AFE business will benefit from this approach, and we are actively supporting AFE with its developments, and preparing to support the significant expected SGT technology delivery work to come, related to AFE’s first project and the SGT license signed this past May,” added Ms. Fair.

About Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc.

Synthesis Energy Systems (SES) is a Houston-based technology company focused on generating clean, high-value energy from low-cost and low-grade coal, biomass and municipal solid waste through its proprietary technology for conversion of these resources into a clean synthesis gas (syngas) and methane. SES’s proprietary technology enables the production of clean, low-cost power, industrial fuel gas, chemicals, fertilizers, transportation fuels, and substitute natural gas, replacing expensive natural gas-based energy. SES’s technology can also produce high-purity hydrogen for cleaner transportation fuels. SES enables greater fuel flexibility for both large-scale and efficient small- to medium-scale operations close to fuel sources. Fuel sources include low-rank, low-cost high ash, high moisture coals, which are significantly cheaper than higher grade coals, waste coals, biomass, and municipal solid waste feedstocks. SES: Growth With Blue Skies. 

About Australian Future Energy Pty Ltd
Australian Future Energy (AFE), Pty Ltd is a privately owned Australian company founded in 2014 by its primary shareholders, coal industry veteran Edek Choros and Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. AFE was established to secure an ownership position in local resources, such as coal and biomass, for production of agricultural chemicals and energy using SES gasification technology that will reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and support Australian industry and regional growth.  

As part of the formation of AFE, SES and AFE entered into a Master Technology Agreement whereby SES will share a portion of its earned license fee with AFE, and AFE will exclusively use SES technology, while SES will exclusively use AFE as its channel to the Australian market. Since formation, AFE successfully created Batchfire Resources, Pty Ltd in Australia, which completed the acquisition of the large 1 billion MT Callide operating coal mine in Queensland. AFE has also recently acquired ownership of the mine development lease for a 270 million MT JORC resource near Pentland, QLD. Coal resources, along with local renewable resources, will be used in combination to fuel the AFE projects. AFE continues to actively develop its first projects that will utilize SES’s efficient and low-cost clean syngas production technology.