The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has approved the contract between the Crow Tribe and Australian-American Energy Co. LLC. The BIA must formally approve the contract. This does not replace the permitting process and the Many Stars project must receive permits before construction can begin.

The Crow Tribe and Australian-American Energy Co. announced the Many Stars Coal-To-Liquid project in 2008. Under the agreement, Australian-American Energy Co. will engineer, construct and operate the plant and the Crow Tribe will provide the site and the coal reserves.

The Many Stars project will convert 14,000,000 tons per year of coal and produce 50,000 bpd of liquid fuel. The project is estimated to cost $7.4 billion. Construction is planned to begin in 2012 and plant start up is scheuduled for 2016.