JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – South Africa-focused Universal Coal’s Kangala colliery, in Mpumalanga, achieved record sales of 172 000 t for February – 28 000 t above target.
Power utility Eskom took delivery of 160 000 t and 12 000 t was exported through the Richards Bay Coal Terminal.
Further, the 2.4-million-tonne-a-year colliery had now also processed two-million tonnes through the coal handling and preparation plant since production started a year before.
“This is an outstanding achievement and is testament to the quality and efforts of our management team and contractors Stefanutti Stocks Mining Services and Mineral Resource Development.
"With Kangala now hitting its strides, we look forward to delivering continual strong production and sales figures for the year ahead, in parallel with bringing on stream our next operation, the 2.8-million-tonne-a-year New Clydesdale Colliery– (NCC–) Roodekop [complex],” commented Universal CEO Tony Weber.
Universal holds a 74% interest in the Roodekop project and was acquiring a 49% interest in NCC, which is adjacent to Roodekop, from Exxaro Resources.
In February, the ASX-listed company said it had received all the required permits to start mining at the project, which would comprise openpit and underground operations. Openpit mining was expected to take place at the Roodekop section, while underground mining would take place at the existing NCC mine.
NCC–Roodekop had a Joint Ore Reserve Committee-compliant resource of 138.9-million tonnes, of which 114.2-million tonnes was measured and 24.7-million tonnes indicated.