Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe (third from left) this month officiated at the opening of Canyon Coal’s new Khanye colliery, in Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng. Khanye, which has a 39-million-tonne coal reserve, is expected to produce 2.8-million tonnes of coal a year over a 16-year mine life. Seen in celebratory mood with the Minister are Mercuria Energy Trading cofounder and president Daniel Jaeggi and Canyon Coal chairperson Vuslat Bayoğlu, with Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Deputy Minister Kopeng Bapela on the extreme right. Canyon is in the process of increasing its production to 10-million tonnes a year, with five new opencast mines and two underground mines earmarked for commissioning within the next few years.