Little-known Czech outfit Sev.en Global Investments is in talks to buy coal mines in Australia to further broaden its portfolio in “traditional” mining and energy after snapping up the Vales Point coal power station in NSW and a potash project in Western Australia in a spending spree last week.

Alan Svoboda, chief executive of the family firm, said Sev.en saw good opportunities for investment in Australia, putting capital to use to buy assets that other investors and banks were turning their backs on but which it expected would be needed for many years to come.