TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Toronto- and Sydney-listed Coalspur Mines has appointed Colin Gilligan to the position of COO effective April 1.

Gilligan would be responsible for the technical and operating aspects of Coalspur's significant Vista coal project, in Alberta.

Together with Coalspur's recently appointed VP for operations Richard Tremblay, Gilligan would ensure the smooth development, commissioning and operation of Vista.

Gilligan, who would be based out of the company's Vancouver office, brings 24 years of mining experience to Coalspur, having been involved in the development and operation of significant operations internationally. Gilligan served as the COO of Mitsui Coal Holdings, where he oversaw production of 12-million equity tons of coal a year, from eleven joint venture operations.

He was also responsible for devising and executing a growth strategy through acquisitions, organic expansions and investments.

"Colin's wealth of experience in developing and operating mines will be of immense value to Coalspur as we move into construction on Vista and prepare for production in early 2015. His experience with contract mining operations, and focus on capital efficiency and low-cost operations, will stand us in good stead as we progress with our project execution,” Coalspur president and CEO Gill Winckler said.

Coalspur's flagship Vista project is located on the eastern margin of the Rocky Mountain thrust belt, which trends north-west to south-east across Canada’s British Columbia and Alberta provincial borders. Vista has the potential to be developed into the largest export thermal coal mine in North America.

As at December 31, 2011, the project had total proven and probable reserves of 565.5-million tons of coal, and total measured and indicated resources, as at May 8, 2012, of 1.056-billion tons and an inferred resource of 460.9-million tons.