Continental Coal Appoints Johan Bloemsma As Nonexecutive Director

Continental Coal Ltd. (CCC.AU) said Friday it has appointed Johan Bloemsma, an experienced mining industry executive who helped expand Anglo American PLC's (AAL.LN) coal division beyond South Africa, as a nonexecutive director.

Bloemsma's appointment is effective immediately, Continental said.

"His [Bloemsma's] strategic thinking, experiences in mergers, acquisitions and organic growth with Anglo Coal across technical, legal and commercial disciplines in multiple jurisdictions from grass roots exploration through feasibility studies to construction and into production are key attributes that he brings to the board of Continental," Don Turvey, chief executive of Continental, said in a statement.

Last month, Continental director Jason Brewer told Dow Jones Newswires the company was looking to replicate its success in developing thermal coal mines in South Africa with a push this year into Colombia and coking coal.

The company said Bloemsma, 62, has been involved in coal mining for more than 41 years in areas including South Africa, Australia, the U.S., Canada and Colombia. Most recently, he was CEO of AMCI Capital's AMCI Africa arm. He was with Anglo American for 37 years, including 33 years at the Anglo Coal unit, Continental said.

Continental has two operating mines in South Africa producing about 2 million metric tons a year for the domestic and export markets. It has a third mine in South Africa in development and has completed a bankable feasibility study on a fourth. Continental said last month it was set for run-of-mine production in South Africa of 7 million tons a year in 2013 and 10 million tons by 2015.

The company last month appointed Mike Kilbride, previously chief operating officer of South Africa's Exxaro Resources Ltd. (EXX.JO), as independent nonexecutive chairman.

-By Robb M. Stewart, Dow Jones Newswires; [phone]; [e-mail]