JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – AltX-listed Mine Restoration Investments’ (MRI’s) coal fines washing and briquetting plant located at coal miner Keaton Energy's Vaalkrantz colliery, in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, produced 1 900 t of fine coal duff product during March, with the majority of this material being stockpiled to be delivered to Keaton in the next few weeks. 

Over the past few months, MRI had been in discussion with Keaton about the sale of product from the plant. These discussions had been concluded, and although the specific commercial terms remained confidential, broadly the new agreement covered the joint marketing of screened duff product of different grades in addition to briquettes.

MRI was producing duff product exclusively for Keaton for the time being, as this product delivered a higher margin owing to the lower cost of production. The market for briquettes was not yet fully developed, MRI said in a stakeholder update.

MRI stated that the plant’s production target for May was 3 600 t.

“The plant has been able to achieve a steady increase in production through [improving the efficiency] of the process and hiring and training of new shift teams. Plant throughput is linked to the achieved flow and the slurry concentration from the resuspension pond. Significant problems with the configuration of pipes to and from the pond have been ironed out, and the production team has developed strategies to deal with the erratic supply of water and undersized product from the Vaalkrantz washing plant,” MRI said.

In addition MRI’s management has been in discussions with various owners of fines dumps in the Vryheid area for further potential feedstock to its plant, to supplement supply from the current dump, or for standalone projects.

“Some of these discussions are at an advanced stage while others are still exploratory, but it is clear that there are significant business opportunities that the company can exploit over the next few years in this area,” MRI said.

The company added that it was also working towards a trial of “innovative screening equipment" in May, in conjunction with its technology provider Virto, which had equipment to increase the yield of coal fine screens while also improving quality.

“If the trial is successful, we will look to enter into commercial arrangements to incorporate the technology into this, and future, projects,” MRI said.

Meanwhile, the company also noted that its associate company Prodiflex Coal had responded to a request for proposals by miner Exxaro relating to finding a solution for coal fines at its Leeuwpan colliery, in Mpumalanga.

MRI stated that it was confident that it would come up with a viable solution for this project building on its experience at Vaalkrantz.

Prodiflex was also doing testwork with Keaton on fines samples from its Vanggatfontein colliery, in Mpumalanga.