We are not in the coal-mining business and have no intention to do so,” comments Nick Booth, CEO of leading brick manufacturer Corobrik. The company operates an open-cast clay brick production facility adjacent to the ecologically sensitive Rietvlei Nature Reserve in Centurion. Recent media speculation focused on Corobrik’s alleged plan, and subsequent granting of a mining licence by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DMRE), to mine above-ground coal from untapped surface deposits at its Rietvlei operation. While Corobrik’s existing mining right applies only to clay, the DMRE has requeste ..read more

Formerly the World Coal Association, FutureCoal: The Global Alliance for Sustainable Coal is a multi-lateral organisation representing the entire coal value chain including coal producers, suppliers, and consumers such as power, steel, cement, aluminium, and the technologists which pave the way for a modernised and responsible industry. Launched in New Delhi, the organisation advocates and educates on the total contribution of coal. “A misinformed coal narrative, misinforms the market. This narrative must be corrected if we are to achieve global economic and sustainability goals.” Michelle M ..read more

After 38 years the World Coal Association (WCA) will cease and usher in a new era under the transformative branding: FutureCoal – The Global Alliance for Sustainable Coal. Unveiling the new brand logo and identity at a dedicated press conference in Delhi, FutureCoal Chief Executive, Michelle Manook, said the change responded to a call from coal and coal allied sectors to modernise, and unite under a common purpose. The FutureCoal organisation will now open its doors representing major and strategic players across the entire coal value chain. The organisation advocates for an inclusive all fue ..read more

Keeping its mobile equipment operators comfortable in hot, cold or dusty conditions is a priority for a South African coal miner so it has renewed its man-on-site HVAC maintenance contract with Booyco Engineering for another three years. According to Booyco Engineering Managing Director Brenton Spies, the performance of HVAC systems is operationally and legally critical for companies wanting to optimise their uptime and production levels. Regular maintenance by specialised technicians can make sure that mobile equipment owners can achieve this vital goal, says Spies. “The conditions on many S ..read more

Menar MD Vuslat Bayoglu raised concerns about SA’s ability to afford an overhaul of the power system to suit renewables, at a time when the GDP growth rate has dropped to 0.4%. Bayoglu spoke during a panel discussion at the Coal and Energy Transition Day conference in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 18 July. Amongst available baseload suppliers, hydrogen is rated at as the most expensive at an estimated cost of US$239 per MWh, followed by nuclear power at US$225 per MWh, while coal is about US$74 per MWh, gas is about US$94 per MWh. “Renewable energy is the most expensive resource,” he said. South A ..read more

Edenville Energy updated the market on production at its Rukwa Coal Project in Tanzania, reporting that 594 tonnes of coal were washed at Rukwa in March. The AIM-traded firm said of that, 512.5 tonnes of coal was washed between 20 and 31 March, due to improved weather conditions and operational performance of the wash plant. It said it had established a “substantial” stockpile of run-of-mine coal, but the subsequent washing of the coal was hampered by its moisture content due to the ongoing rainy season in Tanzania. However, the wash plant was able to operate for at least four hours per day o ..read more

Multotec Services Mozambique Lda, recently celebrated 10 years of operating in the Southern African country, where it established a branch to service clients in the coal fields in the Tete Province. In addition, the company also services clients involved in graphite, mineral sands and precious stone mining in other parts of the country. Multotec Services Mozambique is a subsidiary of The Multotec Group, which is headquartered in South Africa and has, for the past 50 years, helped the world’s biggest mining houses process minerals more efficiently, effectively, and reliably. Multotec’s mineral ..read more

Continuing a spate of new global enrolments, the World Coal Association (WCA) yesterday welcomed South African mining investor, Menar, to its roster of progressive coal members. On the sidelines of Mining Indaba in Cape Town, WCA CEO, Michelle Manook, formalised Menar’s WCA membership with Menar Chairman, Mpumelelo Mkhabela, and Menar Managing Director, Vuslat Bayoglu, saying coal was entering a new age of abatement which would ensure that coal survives and thrives for decades to come. “World events have shown how special and indispensable all energy resources are – especially coal. We can’t ..read more

Canyon Coal, a subsidiary of private investment company Menar, is constructing a new coal mine in Hendrina, Mpumalanga. Production is expected to start in the second half of 2023. The first phase of the Gugulethu project, on track to be completed in 8-10 months, is expected to produce 1.2 million t/y of 5 500 kc NAR coal. “We are in the development phase and have already done the tenders for the civils and the processing plant. Our mining equipment has started to arrive,” states Gugulethu Colliery GM Jarmi Steyn. Formerly known as De Wittekrans, Gugulethu is a greenfield project located southea ..read more

A wage strike at South Africa’s port and freight-rail operator that’s curbing mineral exports is set to worsen as members of more labor unions join the protest. The United National Transport Union, the majority labor group at state-owned Transnet SOC Ltd., began the strike on Oct. 6. The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union, the second-biggest employee group, and other smaller unions will also halt work from Monday, Cobus van Vuuren, Untu’s general secretary, said Sunday in an interview. Transnet, which operates the nation’s industrial ports and freight rail network and fuel ..read more