Prairie Mining Ltd. has acquired the mine-ready Debiensko hard coking coal project in Poland, and believes it "has the potential to become a strategically important supplier to the European steelmaking industry."

The company will pay €2.0 million in cash, with €500,000 already paid, to acquire 100% of project owner NWR Karbonia SA, from New World Resources Plc.

Historical drilling at Debiensko has estimated a total exploration target of between 210 million tonnes and 260 million tonnes, according to the Oct. 11 statement.

Prairie intends to undertake a work program to review all historical data, undertake an infill drill program, provide a JORC-compliant updated resource, and deliver a re-engineered mine plan to produce a feasibility study to international standards with a focus on near-term production.

As part of the transaction, the company has acquired about 15 hectares of land and all related facilities required for project development.

New World kicked off the sale process for NWR Karbonia in May following an assessment of the likely impacts of filing for insolvency by its unit OKD as.