Modern Mining January 2025

COAL

Kangra looks forward to future growth opportunities Coal remains a vital component of the global energy mix, accounting for 37% of the world’s electricity production, with the International Energy Agency forecasting continued robust demand from some regions. This is good news for local coal miners, such as Kangra, a subsidiary of Menar.

Mining Kangra Kangra started mining the 41.9 million tonne Kusipongo resource through the development of Udumo and Uthingo adits. Mining at Udumo started in 2022 and Uthingo began production in 2023. “Through developing this resource, we have extended the life-of-mine (LOM) by over 20 years, allowing Kangra to continue making a positive contribution to the economy and the mine’s host communities,” says Kangra’s General Manager, Paul Redelinghuys. Additionally, Kangra has installed a Joy online monitoring system for continuous miners to track productivity and safety-critical aspects, like methane gas, in real time while also increasing efficiency. The system has been installed at operations at the Uthingo adit, and in 2025, the plan is to roll it out to the rest of the sections. Discussing production from Udumo and Uthingo adits, he explains that the adits have an estimated production target of 42 000 tonnes ROM each. “Udumo has an overall LOM of more than 20 years, while Uthingo has an anticipated LOM of over 10 years.”

The mine’s processing plant produces a range of product sizes, making it suitable for local and international markets. Although Kangra’s processing plant primarily yields Rb3 grade coal, depending on market requirements, it is able to adjust to deliver Rb1 grade coal. “Our product is moved through the local siding in Piet Retief and transported to Richards Bay, where we have access to the Richards Bay Coal Terminal and Multi-Purpose Terminal. The main export destination for Kangra product is Asia.” Discussing some of the challenges associated with mining at depth, Redelinghuys explains that Kangra is a shallow resource mined mostly at a depth of between 40 and 250 metres. Given that pressure from the overlying rock increases with depth and poses a potential safety challenge, Kangra has been proactive in ensuring that the size of the underground pillars is increased to withstand additional weight, thereby dramatically reducing the potential of roof and pillar deterioration. “These adjustments, made by rock engineering specialists, ensure that the infrastructure is solid and workers are safe from harm.” Future growth opportunities Following the development of Uthingo and Udumo adits, Kangra is advancing its T4 project, an underground resource that can be effectively mined on the board and pillar method, using continuous miners and shuttle cars. The project, which will be an expansion of the existing mining right, has a total underground ROM reserve of 15.69 million tonnes. The current estimated life of mine for T4 is more than 15 years. “The intention is to finalise the mining rights and required licenses before we can proceed with developing the T4 project, which has a LOM of more than 15 years. Uthingo will serve as an access point to the T4 resource.” n

Members of the Kangra team conduct routine maintenance checks on a continuous miner underground.

Paul Redelinghuys, General Manager at Kangra

An aerial shot of Uthingo, one of two adits developed by Kangra to access the Kusipongo reserve.

26  MODERN MINING  www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | JANUARY 2025