Minerals Council of Australia CEO Mitchell Hooke and retiring Newcrest boss Ian Smith have joined the board of privately owned coal-to-gas technology company GTL Energy. Mr Hooke and Mr Smith would invest in GTL and take on leadership roles, GTL said in a statement.
Mr Smith will leave Newcrest, Australia's biggest gold miner, on July 1, with the company having doubled its first half net profit to $437.8 million.
GTL last year commissioned a plant upgrade to produce high-energy, low-moisture coal briquettes, to rejuvenate previously unviable low-rank coal.It is involved in a joint venture with state-owned Solid Energy in New Zealand.
Environmental groups such as Greenpeace criticised the plans saying the opening up of billion tonnes of lignite on the South Island would increase greenhouse gas emissions.
Current director Ralf Sellig has been elected interim chairman.
AAP Pic: Minerals Council of Australia CEO Mitchell Hooke.
