Western Coal Appoints New Board Member

VANCOUVER , Dec. 7 /CNW/ - The Board of Directors of Western Coal Corp (TSX: WTN, WTN.WT and WTN.DB and AIM: WTN) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Owen Ryan (51) to the Board of Directors effective December 4, 2009 .

Mr. Ryan is currently a partner of Scarab Capital Partners, which is a FSA (UK Financial Services Authority) registered company that offers mining investment and corporate finance advisory services. Prior to starting Scarab Capital, Mr. Ryan was Head of Group Business Development with Anglo American for six years. Mr. Ryan holds a Civil Engineering degree and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree. After applying his civil engineering degree with various companies, Mr. Ryan progressed through the research ranks to eventually become Executive Director, Head of Global Mining Research and Sales at UBS Warburg before joining Anglo American.

Mr. John Byrne , Chairman of Western Coal Corp., comments, "On behalf of the Board, we are very pleased to add Owen's qualities and talents to the Board. His extensive finance experience, particularly in business development, will be valuable to the growth of the Company."

Listed below are the names of the companies of which Owen Ryan has been a corporate director at any time in the past five years:

    
    -  Scarab Capital Partners LLP*
    -  Chevallion Fund Management Limited*
    -  Carbon Growth Capital Limited*
    -  Anglo American Services Russia Ltd
    -  Anglo American Services India Ltd
    * current directorship
    

There are no other details to be disclosed under Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules.

About Western

Western is a producer of high quality metallurgical and thermal coal from mines located in northeast British Columbia ( Canada ) and West Virginia (USA). The mines have the capacity to produce 7 million tonnes per year and have over 20 years of coal reserves. Western also owns a 50.6% interest Energybuild (EBG: AIM) which produces high quality anthracite and thermal coal in South Wales (UK). Other interests owned include a 45% interest in Xtract Energy (XTR: AIM) and a 20% interest in NEMI Northern Energy & Mining (NNE.A: TSX). The Company is headquartered in Vancouver , BC, Canada , and trades on the AIM and TSX stock exchanges under the symbol "WTN". More information can be found at www.westerncoal.com

For further information: David Jan, Director, Investor Relations, [phone], [email protected]