Background
| December 2005 | Victoria Coal Resources Pty Ltd (‘VCR’) was incorporated to evaluate the potential of developing the lignite deposits within EL 4416 with emphasis on the surface deposits, as well as the so-called uneconomic deeper coal seams. |
| December 2005 - January 2006 | VCR signed the Farm-in Agreement with Coal Bed Methane Resources ('CBMR') for the rights to all mineral resources and biogenic natural gas (natural gas in coal seams) within EL 4416. |
| Early 2007 | VCR undertook a preliminary feasibility study of technologies available to upgrade the lignite within EL 4416 to higher energy density fuels. |
| May 2007 | Ignite Energy designed its continuous-flow pilot scale (Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor) coal conversion technology. |
| June 2007 | Ignite Energy Pty Ltd was officially formed and registered to commercialise the 'Cat-HTR Process'. |
| August 2007 | CBMR commenced the Burong Pilot Production and Drilling Program to explore for biogenic natural gas within EL 4416. |
| October 2007 | Ignite Energy appointed BEST Engineering to build a Cat-HTR Process Pilot Plant. |
| January 2008 | IER's Pilot Plant was commissioned at Somersby, New South Wales. |
| June 2008 | Lignite from the Hazelwood mine, located in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria, was successfully processed at Ignite Energy’s Pilot Plant. |
| August 2008 - September 2008 | Ignite Energy Pty Ltd merged with Victoria Coal Resources Pty Ltd to create Ignite Energy Resources Pty Ltd ('IER'). |
| September 2008 | CBMR completed the Burong Pilot Production and Drilling Program, demonstrating the presence of permeable, gas-bearing coal seams within EL 4416. |
| September 2008 | IER acquired the engineering assets of BEST Engineering. |
| December 2008 | German (high sulphur) lignite was successfully processed at IER's Pilot Plant. |
| July 2009 | IER signed a memorandum of understanding with EnergyAustralia (formerly TRUenergy), to host a Pre-commercial Plant (Cat-HTR Process) at Yallourn, in Victoria's Latrobe Valley. Click here to read the government press release |
| August 2009 | IER acquired Licella Pty Ltd, the company that has developed a modified Cat-HTR Process to convert biomass into biofuels. |
| September 2009 | Licella Pty Ltd successfully bid for $2.3 million in matching funds from the Australian Government's A$15 million Second Generation (Gen II) Biofuel Research and Development Program. |
| January 2010 | IER and Coal Bed Methane Resources signed the CBMR Agreement in order to complete IER’s acquisition of EL 4416 and the equitable rights to ELA 4968. |
| March 2011 | IER successfully raises A$20 million through a private placement to fund the development of its Commercial Demonstration Plant ("CDP") and EL 4416 |
| April 2011 | IER received notice from the Victorian Department of Primary Industries (‘DPI’) that EL 4416 has been renewed for an additional 2 years. |
| May 2011 | IER commences the construction of its CDP at IER’s Somersby Engineering Facility, located on the Central Coast of New South Wales. |
| December 2011 | |
| June 2012 | IER signs a farm-in agreement with Esso Ventures Pty Ltd, an affiliate of ExxonMobil Australia Pty Ltd to jointly develop the coal-seam gas potential within EL 4416 |