Atlantic Coal PLC Stockton Mine Reserve Update (7203G)

TIDMATC

RNS Number : 7203G

Atlantic Coal PLC

11 June 2013

Atlantic Coal plc / Index: AIM / Epic: ATC / Sector: Mining

11 June 2013

Atlantic Coal plc ("Atlantic Coal" or the "Company")

Stockton Mine Reserve Update

Atlantic Coal, the AIM listed anthracite coal mining company operating in Pennsylvania, USA, is pleased to announce a 29.0 per cent. increase in its clean coal reserve base to 1.777* million tons from 1.375 million tons, at the Stockton anthracite mine ("Stockton") located near Hazleton, Pennsylvania.

The upgrade is part of the annual audit at 31 December 2012 of Stockton by independent consultant John T. Boyd Company, This re-assessment follows the 2012 record production of 161,659 tons and therefore, were that to be taken into account, then it would represent an effective increase of over 560,000 tons on the 31 December 2011 reserve base (equivalent to a 41.0 per cent. increase). The board of Atlantic Coal estimates that this increase will extend the life of Stockton by approximately four years from 2020 to 2024 based on the 2012 production figure.

Atlantic Coal's Managing Director Steve Best said: "We are pleased to announce this significant increase in Stockton's reserve base and subsequent expected mine life extension. This follows the record production figures reported from our Pennsylvanian mine for the quarter ended 31 March 2013. Stockton remains an important element of our strategy to become a major mid-tier anthracite producer. With an additional 400,000 tonnes (after deduction of the 2012 production of 161,659 tonnes) of high anthracite identified on site, and our recent acquisition of the Pott & Bannon site, I believe that we can look ahead with confidence over the coming months as we advance our production portfolio."

*The revised estimate is subject to completion of drilling to confirm the extent of prior by-passed coal on the south wall of the mine and development of an updated mine plan for recovery of remaining coal.

Ronald L Lewis, a registered Professional Mining Engineer in Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, a Certified Member of the American Institute of Minerals Appraiser, a registered Member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc.,), Managing Director and COO of John T. Boyd Company, who meets the criteria of a qualified person under the AIM Rules - Note for Mining, Oil and Gas Companies, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained within this announcement.

**ENDS**

For further information on the Company, visit: www.atlanticcoal.com or contact:

 
 Steve Best         Atlantic Coal plc           Tel: [phone] 
 Nick Naylor        Allenby Capital Limited     Tel: [phone] 
 Mark Connelly      Allenby Capital Limited     Tel: [phone] 
 Alex Price         Allenby Capital Limited     Tel: [phone] 
 Elisabeth Cowell   St Brides Media & Finance   Tel: [phone] 
                     Ltd 
 

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