Modern Mining September 2020

COAL

Matla Mine 1 relocation project takes off

Exxaro Resources has commenced work on the relocation project of Eskom’s Matla Mine 1 underground production facility, which has been under care and maintenance since 2016. The project includes the development of a new decline shaft, including a box cut with bulk materials handling facility. Modern Mining spoke to Exxaro Resources executive head, projects and technology Johan Meyer to learn more. By Mark Botha .

F irst production on the relocated mine is expected in the second half of 2023, at an annual capacity of 4-million tonnes (Mt) of bitu- minous coal, which will bring the total annual production to 10 Mt and will enable to increase the life of mine until 2042. The R3,3-billion project is funded by Eskom, while Exxaro Resources is responsible for project manage- ment and mining. The mine, which was established in 1978, consists of three underground operations. Exxaro identified two possible solutions to reclaim underground equipment and essential services – to relocate the mine and to develop a new mining shaft with an annual capacity of 4 Mt. The new decline shaft will provide access to the remaining economical two-seam reserves and the project will supply Mine 1 with five complete suites of underground continuous miner equip- ment and equipment used to construct supporting

infrastructure, interseams between Mines 2 and 3, as well as a ventilation for Mine 3’s future produc- tion areas. A starting point was to assess coal quality and yield to determine sustainable production volumes and life of mine under different climate scenarios. This, says Exxaro Resources executive head, proj- ects and technology Johan Meyer, was the basis of the early value strategy the company shared with its stakeholders in 2019. The strategy aims to reduce the potential for stranded high-quality coal reserves. “The Matla Power Station,” says Meyer, “was built 42 years ago with the coal resource below it. The best coal you can provide to a power station is the coal closest to the station, which can be delivered by means of a conveyor.” He says the Matla reserve is accessed via three mines because of the vast size of the resource,

Johan Meyer, executive head, projects and technology at Exxaro Resources.

The location of Eskom’s new Matla Mine 1 underground production facility, with the Matla Power Station in the background.

12  MODERN MINING  September 2020