Lawsuit clouds Ambre Energy’s plans to export coal from Columbia River ports

Published: Monday, July 16, 2012, 2:26 PM     Updated: Monday, July 16, 2012, 2:36 PM

By Scott Learn, The Oregonian

Ambre Energy, the Australian company shooting for two coal export terminals along the Columbia River, is in hot water with its business partner in a Montana mine that's supposed to supply the coal Ambre would ship to Asia.

Last week, Cloud Peak Energy sued Ambre in U.S. District Court in Montana, alleging that Ambre's export plans for the Decker mine were developed without Cloud Peak's approval and asking the court to remove Ambre as the mine's manager.

Since buying a half-share in the mine last November, Ambre has engaged in "various self-dealing transactions" designed to give Ambre a "disproportionate share" of profits on Asian sales, the complaint says.

Ambre is pursuing two export terminals along the Columbia, the Millennium Bulk Terminal in Longview and a "Morrow Pacific" project spread between the Port of Morrow and the Port of St. Helens.

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