Junior coal explorer Conti-nental Coal would start coal sales from its Vlakvarkfontein mine, in South Africa, in the second quarter of this year, the ASX-listed company reported last week.

The recently appointed mining contractor, Trollope Mining Services (TMS), has initiated community recruitment and has hosted a number of site 
visits by potential offtake and equity partners, as well as likely 
service providers.

The company has also started 
with topsoil stripping ahead of mining, which will start next month.

“The progress to date will 
ensure that we are able to start coal production and sales at Vlakvarkfontein during the 
second quarter of this year,” said Continental Coal MD Bruce Buthelezi.

As part of these topsoil stripping activities in the boxcut area, TMS would remove up 
to 10 000 m3 by early March. 
By this time, a two-shift operation would start, with another excavator and three more dump trucks already on site, allowing the contractor to further increase prestripping activities to over 
6 000 m3/d of material.

The first blasting oper-
ations would start within three weeks.

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