Cougar CEO steps down

24 May 2012, 3:17 pm   -   Source: AAP

The head and founder of Cougar Energy, which is involved in legal battle with the Queensland government over the shut down of a project, has stood down.

The head and founder of the energy company that is in a legal dispute with the Queensland government has stood down.

Cougar Energy chief executive Len Walker will relinquish his position but remain on the company's board to share his expertise in underground coal gasification (UCG), Cougar said on Thursday.

A search has begun for a new chief executive and a focus would be for candidates with the skills to lead Cougar's expansion into Asia, the company said.

Cougar's $550 million UCG project at Kingaroy in south east Queensland was shut down by Queensland's Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) in January 2011.

The order was made after cancer-causing chemicals were found in bore water at the site in 2010.

Cougar claims there was no evidence of any environmental harm being present, and is seeking damages from the Queensland government and several DERM officials for the shut down.

It is also appealing a recent ruling by Queensland's Planning and Environment Court that the company continue to decommission the project.

"The past few years have been extremely challenging, particularly given the political motivation evident in the shut down of our Kingaroy plant," Dr Walker said in a statement.

"The appointment of a new CEO will inject new energy into the company as it expands and develops its project options in the Asian region."

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube