Courtney Taylor, Executive Director and incoming Managing Director of Yari Minerals (ASX:YAR), joins NWR Communications today to discuss her recent appointment and the maiden JORC Indicated Coal Resource of 33.74 Mt at the Rolleston South Coal Project in Queensland’s Bowen Basin. The conversation focuses on resource de-risking, strategic consolidation opportunities, and advancing toward district-scale development in one of the world’s premier coal regions.
What does this maiden Indicated Resource change in practical terms for Rolleston South?
“This is an exciting milestone for us. The maiden 33.74 Mt Indicated Resource comes directly from four additional drill holes (1,287.9 m) completed late last year that confirmed thick, continuous coal seams starting at just 48.9 m depth. Moving part of the resource into the Indicated category significantly improves confidence in seam continuity and geological interpretation. That gives us representative, higher-confidence material we can now use for coal quality testwork, product specification studies and early mining option assessment. It materially de-risks the project, supports progression toward feasibility work, and opens pathways to leverage nearby infrastructure for more efficient development.”
How should investors interpret the overall ~223 Mt Total Coal Resource and the shallow nature of the seams?
“The Total Resource has increased 17% to ~223 Mt, with the Indicated portion providing a solid, shallow base we can target first. These are thick seams with excellent continuity at very shallow depths, which points to straightforward open-cut potential with low strip ratios. For investors, this is proof that Rolleston South has genuine scale and mineability near surface, exactly what we need as our foundation asset in the Bowen Basin. Achieving this level of resource confidence underscores the importance of building critical mass to unlock better economics and attract strategic interest.”
What attracted you to the Managing Director role at Yari Minerals?
“I’ve spent my career with major producers like Anglo American, Vale and BHP working across the full coal value chain, exploration, project development, regulatory approvals, major projects and technology initiatives. It has always been a professional goal of mine to work on the development of a new mine, advancing an asset from exploration to production.
Yari’s Rolleston South project stood out because it already has clear infrastructure advantages. Access to rail, port and established markets. The recent resource upgrade validates the geology, and the focus on disciplined execution to de-risk and scale up aligns perfectly with where I see the Queensland coal sector heading. I’m very pleased to be taking a leading role in progressing this high-quality Bowen Basin asset toward its full potential and embedding Yari strongly withing the Queensland sector.”
How does Rolleston South fit into Yari’s broader aggregation strategy?
“Rolleston South is our cornerstone, an asset that provides immediate resource value. With confirmed shallow, continuous seams, strong Indicated tonnage and direct access to existing rail and port infrastructure, it positions us to pursue aligned partnerships, bolt-on opportunities and marketing synergies across the Bowen Basin. Our strategy is clear. Build resource scale through consolidation where it makes sense, secure logistics, and deliver a diversified, high-confidence portfolio that attracts the right development partners while reducing overall risks and capital intensity.”
What is your view on coal mining in Queensland and the outlook for the Bowen Basin?
“Queensland’s Bowen Basin remains one of the world’s premier metallurgical and thermal coal provinces, with established infrastructure, skilled workforce and ongoing demand from high-efficiency markets in Asia and India. Under the energy transition, high-quality, low-emission coal from modern operations will continue to play a critical bridging role while renewables scale and green steel technology is not only developed, but until it becomes economically viable. Yari is well placed with a shallow, high-confidence resource that supports responsible, low-impact development, especially when scaled appropriately to leverage district precedents and achieve economic viability that benefits both energy security and the state’s economy.”
Courtney Taylor’s appointment and the rapid delivery of a shallow maiden Indicated Resource mark a clear shift at Yari Minerals, from early exploration validation to disciplined de-risking and feasibility readiness. With improved geological certainty, infrastructure advantages and a focused aggregation strategy, Rolleston South is advancing on a well-defined pathway to become a meaningful contributor in Queensland’s Bowen Basin coal sector.