BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — An Australian company seeking to take control of a Montana coal mine and boost exports to Asia is in discussions with state officials about a potential $10 million loan from an economic development trust, representatives of the state and Ambre Energy said Friday.

The loan would be paired with $10 million from a private bank and used to buy and refurbish mining equipment, said Herb Kulow with the Montana Board of Investments. Both sides said the talks have been preliminary and stressed that the amount of any loan could change.