Australian coal prospector Coalworks Ltd. (CWK.AU) said Monday that it appointed Geoff Kidd, operations manager since May 2009, as its chief operating officer.

Kidd, who also is chairman of the Gunnedah Basin coal producers group that includes BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) and Whitehaven Coal Ltd. (WHC.AU) and others, will continue to lead Coalworks' engineering and geological teams through feasibility studies, Coalworks said in a statement.

The company last month appointed Pitt Capital Partners to advise on plans to build an independent coal producer.

Pitt was also hired to consider the implications of a takeover by Whitehaven of Aston Resources Ltd. (AZT.AU) and unlisted exploration firm Boardwalk Resources, which owns an almost 20% stake in Coalworks.

At 2316 GMT, Coalworks' shares were trading down 1.6% at A$0.60 amid a modest gain in the wider Australian market.

-By Robb M. Stewart, Dow Jones Newswires; +61 3 9292 2094; robb.stewart@dowjones.com

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