Carbon capture could deal with energy-intensive mining industry’s challenge

More than 90 % of South Africa’s electricity is generated from coal, resulting in the release of about 440-million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) a year.

CCTs the answer for coal-reliant SA

As climate change is becoming more problematic and pressure to conform to more environment-friendly operating methods builds, countries around the world are forced to look at alternative ways of combusting coal.

Coal industry still plagued by skills shortage

South Africa still faces a significant skills shortage in the coal industry and, while the current demand for skilled engineers is likely to be met in the next few years, not enough is being done to meet the demand for skilled technicians and...

Geoscience coal report ready for 2012 release – Shabangu

The study being conducted by South Africa’s Council for Geosciences (CGS) into the country’s coal resources and reserves was being finalised for release in the first half of this year, Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu said on...

SA supports carbon capture technology but costs a concern

South Africa was fully committed to carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, but the cost of CCS remained "prohibitively high" for developing countries like South Africa, which have a myriad of socioeconomic challenges to deal with, Energy...

Coal will continue to play a key role in SA power future

The use of coal to generate power in South Africa would only stop when the resource was depleted, and not because it would be replaced by renewable energy, XMP Consulting senior coal analyst Xavier Prevost said on Tuesday. South Africa, the...

Despite renewables push, coal still provides 80% of SA’s solid, liquid energy requirements and 90% of electricity

In South Africa, the recent sharp energy increases have placed the spotlight on the cost and supply of energy in the future. “Further, the nuclear crisis in Japan and the recent cabinet acceptance of the Integrated Resources Programme (IRP) have...

UCG pilot plant to cofire gas into Majuba in second quarter

State-owned power utility Eskom intends to cofire gas, produced at its underground coal gasification (UCG) pilot project, at the adjacent Majuba coal-fired power station, in Mpumalanga, in the second quarter of 2011. Eskom corporate consultant...

Queensland unveils 20-year coal infrastructure plan

The Queensland state government on Wednesday unveiled a new plan to chart the course of its coal mining infrastructure over the next two decades. Speaking at a Queensland Resources Council (QRC) meeting, Premier Anna Bligh said the release of...

A brief look at SA’s coal-mining industry

Most coal production in South Africa - about 53% - is from opencast mines, with the balance being produced by bord-and-pillar (40%), stoping (4%) and longwall mining (3%). Coal mining operations are clustered in the country’s Mpumalanga...

'Greenification' is mining industry’s new global buzzword

Highlighting the historical importance of the mining sector in South Africa, Minister of Mineral Resources Susan Shabangu emphasised that the sector must also play a role in the country’s socioeconomic development in the future, and reiterated...

'Greenification' is mining industry’s new global buzzword

Highlighting the historical importance of the mining sector in South Africa, Minister of Mineral Resources Susan Shabangu emphasised that the sector must also play a role in the country’s socio-economic development in the future, and reiterated...