JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – JSE-listed Keaton Energy on Monday reported that output of washed 2- and 4-seam coal from its Vanggatfontein colliery, in Mpumalanga, had increased 5% year-on-year to 1.2-million tons in the first half of the 2015 financial year.
No toll washing had taken place during the six-month period, with all capacity having been used for the company’s own production.
Further, 5-seam metallurgical coal sales increased 18% year-on-year to 65 006 t, but discard and slurry sales fell to 131 985 t during the period, from 555 963 t during the prior corresponding period, as discards were used in on-site construction activities.
Further, production of domestic and export anthracite at Keaton’s Vaalkrantz operation, in KwaZulu-Natal, had increased 24% to 191 898 t for the half-year.
Keaton said this growth highlighted the success of the company’s drive to not only maintain but grow production at the mine.
“With another record period of safe production, growth and cash generation, we move forward confidently to execute our growth projects, while maintaining our long-life cash generating assets at optimal production levels,” Keaton CEO Mandi Glad commented.