Modern Mining July 2022

COAL

Canyon Coal’s Khanye operations.

Kangra operations as well as a line-up of new proj ects, some of which are in the starting blocks. Canyon Coal’s current operations include the Khanye Colliery, which is at steady state produc tion and processing 200 000 tons per month; its Phalanndwa Extension project, located near Delmas in Mpumalanga, which has ramped up to mine over 120 000 tpm of run of mine (ROM) coal; Kangra which is producing 1.2-million tpa of ROM coal and Zululand Anthracite Colliery (ZAC) – the sole pro ducer of prime anthracite in South Africa, which produces a high-ranking and low volatile anthracite with a main plant feed of 900 ktpa and discard plant feed of 600 ktpa. ZAC has processing plants onsite which produce washed coal with an extremely low ash content rang ing from 8,5% to 18%. In the starting blocks The company has a number of new projects in the early-stage development phase, including Kangra’s Udumo adit, which commenced mining in February this year; Canyon Coal’s fully licenced but yet to be developed Gugulethu Colliery, the company’s Bekezela operation which is awaiting a long-overdue water use licence, and ZAC’s Mngeni Shaft, which is gearing to commence operation. Kangra’s Udumo adit is an extension of the Kangra mine and allows for mining via the Kusipongo reserve. Kusipongo has a coal reserve of around 41,9-million tons and the potential to extend the life of the mine by more than 20 years. Kangra is targeting production of 1,5-million tpa of coal from underground mining sections for the life of mine. Kangra mine is located in Saul Mkhizeville,

expansion initiatives from their own books. “On a more positive note, though, there are still a few local and international financial institutions that are open to funding coal projects,” says Bayoglu. Menar eyes a diversified pipeline of projects Menar’s portfolio of energy metals projects include its Canyon Coal, Zululand Anthracite Colliery and

Canyon Coal’s Phalanndwa Extension.

Benefits of coal  Coal provides cheap and reliable energy.

 About 70% of South Africa’s primary energy consumption comes from coal.  Coal accounts for an estimated 75% of South Africa’s electricity generation and 30% of petroleum liquid fuels.  Coal is also an important component of the iron and steel production, cement manufacturing, ferroalloys, industrial and manufacturing sectors.

24  MODERN MINING  July 2022