The Cambodian-born coal exploration geologist was educated in Phnom Penh where he graduated as a Mining Engineer in 1970. In 1971 he received a Colombo Plan Scholarship to come to Australia to further his education in the mining industry. After a six-month intensive course in English in Melbourne, Victoria, he was admitted to a Masters Degree Course in the Geology Department at the University of Newcastle, New South Wales. Because of the war in Cambodia, his Scholarship was extended to a Ph.D. Degree. He graduated with a Doctorate in Philosophy, major in Palaeontology in January 1977. After completing his studies he worked at the University of Newcastle as a Laboratory Assistant in the Department of Geology until 1980, when he was appointed as a Geologist with CEC (Carpentaria Exploration Company), a subsidiary of Mount Isa Mines. In 1982, he left CEC to join Newlands Coal Mine in Glenden, Queensland. Technical accuracy in the logistics of coal seam extraction coupled with practical expertise in the field of exploration on the part of specialised staff contributed to the success of the NCA project in the resource-rich Bowen Basin. Further successful ventures by the company contributed to the renown in which he was held in the field of coal exploration geology and Dr Peou rose to the rank of Chief Mine Geologist. Dr. Peou also brought with him a wealth of experience from a distinguished career as an academic and author with a considerable portfolio of contributions to learned journals such as the 'International Journal of Coal Geology' to his credit. The naming of the longwall and open-cut 'Sarum Coal Project' in his honour is an illustration of the esteem in which Dr Peou was held by his colleagues and his eminence in the profession. He worked with Newlands until his death in October 2003.
Newlands Coal is part of the NCA Project which includes the Newlands open cut and underground longwall operations, the Collinsville open cut mine and the Abbot Point coal terminal. The project is a joint venture between XStrata coal (55%), Itochu coal Resources (35%) and Sumitomo (10%). Newlands is located in the Bowen Basin in Queensland and produces high quality export steaming coal and coking coal to international customers. Development at Newlands began in 1981 and coal mining operations commenced in 1983.
From the description of 27683 Dr Sarum Peou Collection, 1980-2003. (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 755779942
