Sasol to apply for Waterberg coal mining licence

South Africa’s third-largest coal producer, Sasol Mining, has received approval from its group executive committee to apply for a mining licence in the Waterberg, where it plans to erect a small-scale colliery that will be used as a future...

Tavan Tolgoi coal mine, Mongolia

The project involves large-scale opencut mining operations, in the Eastern Tsankhi area of the Tavan Tolgoi deposit in Mongolia’s South Gobi region.

Corporate scrutineer, varsity in research partnership

South African scrutineer The Bench Marks Foundation has developed a research partnership with the North-West University (NWU) Potchefstroom campus. The parties have started the Bench Marks Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility

Aquila and Macarthur declare force majeure on rain

ASX-listed coal-miners Aquila Resources and Macarthur Coal have declared a force majeure at their Queensland operations after heavy rainfall disrupted mining operations. Aquila’s Isaac Plains project, which is a joint venture with Vale...

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...

New explosives code to come into effect within months

In an effort to bring South Africa on par with best-practice safety standards in the mining industry, new regulations are being introduced for the mine explosives industry.

Skills deficit is a 
significant concern

As South Africa prepares for increased coal production, for export and for electricity generation, experts are concerned about a lack of skills availability.

Coal demand buoys materials handling industry

Industry association the South African Institute of Materials Handling (SAIMH) vice-chairperson Adi Frittella says that coal demand, primarily for its use in State-owned utility provider Eskom’s power stations, is keeping the materials handling...

Share price of coal junior SACMH plunges 65% as operations cease

The share price of JSE-listed black-owned coal-mining company South African Coal Holdings (SACMH) on Monday plunged more than 65% after the company announced that it would cease operating for three months and that it would place its mines on...

Daily podcast – March 25, 2009

In today's podcast: De Beers' diamond joint venture in Namibia receives government approval to halt production from April 1 for three months due to weak sales; and the US Environmental Protection Agency said that it has "serious concerns" about...

US enviro agency has 'serious concerns' about mountain top mining

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has “serious concerns" about potential harmful effects on water quality caused by mountain top mining, the agency said on Tuesday. The EPA has informed the US Army Corps of Engineers that it is...

Water reclamation plant delivers on its promise

The eMalahleni water reclamation plant, established as a R300-million joint initiative between global resource companies Anglo Coal South Africa and BHP Billiton Energy Coal South Africa (Becsa), treats polluted mine water from underground...