JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Global coal industry body, the World Coal Association (WCA) has appointed Benjamin Sporton as its new CEO and Mick Buffier as chairperson.

“The new leadership marks an important change at the WCA, as it repositions itself to more fully engage on the global challenges facing the coal industry,” the association said on Wednesday.

“I am delighted to have been appointed. The WCA has a hugely important role to play in raising awareness of the importance of coal in the global energy mix and the significant potential of high-efficiency low-emission (HELE) coal technologies and carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) in reducing global carbon dioxide (CO²) emissions,” Sporton said.

Sporton was the WCA’s deputy CEO since 2012 and acting CEO since the end of 2014. He had extensive international experience in leading the WCA’s policy and advocacy work, with a particular focus on climate change, energy poverty and sustainable development.

Buffier was Glencore’s coal assets group executive, with 35 years’ experience in the coal mining industry in Australia. He had been a director of the WCA for over four years.

“This is an exciting time for the WCA. I am confident that, with our new leadership, we are well placed to play our role in meeting the global challenges facing the energy sector and making a positive contribution to global efforts to reduce CO² emissions.

“For many countries, the reality is that the only way they can meet their growing energy needs is through affordable, readily available coal. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) global electricity from coal is expected to grow by around 33% to 2040. Given this growth, it is essential that there is greater investment in cleaner coal technologies to widen their deployment – this includes HELE coal technologies and CCUS,” Buffier said.

As director of the Australia coal industry's $1-billion low-emission coal technology fund Acalet, former chairperson and current director and deputy chairperson of the New South Wales (NSW) Minerals Council, as well as a Ministerial appointee to the NSW Coal Innovation Council, the WCA believed that Buffier would be an asset as chairperson.

He was also an associate of the IEA Coal Industry Advisory Board and a peer reviewer of the IEA World Energy Outlook.