South African junior miner Sentula Coal expected to have its four coal development 
assets operational within the 
next 18 months, Sentula Mining CE Xavier Wagner said last 
week.

Addressing delegates at a coal conference in Cape Town, Wagner stated that the two most advanced projects – Bankfontein and Schoongezicht – would start production by the end of the year.

Both projects were being developed in conjunction with Merafe Coal.

Proven Resource

Bankfontein is an eight-million-ton proven resource coal project near Witbank. 
Schoongezicht is also an eight-million-ton proven resource coal project, located near Delmas.

It was expected that combined yearly sales from the Bankfontien and Schoongezicht projects would total 2,85-million tons at full production.

Sentula Coal was also developing the Mulungura coal project, in Zambia.

Wagner stated that this was an 80-million-ton resource with a proven resource of five-million tons, which was being developed in joint venture with the local community.

The third phase of drilling had been completed and it was anticipated that the mine should be in production by the end of the year.

Wagner added that the prefeasibility study had just been completed for its fourth development asset, the Mababa project, near Polokwane, which was being 
undertaken in joint venture with the local community.

The company was currently investigating a resource extension for the project but production was expected to start within the next 18 months.

Wagner told Mining Weekly that all four projects were fully funded, although he could not disclose the exact capital expenditure on each project.

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