Canyon Coal hosted a Procurement Day to meet with local businesses surrounding its new Gugulethu Colliery operations situated in Davel (ward 10) under the Msukaligwa Local Municipality in Mpumalanga.  

The event took place on 13 April 2023 at the Mooivlei Soccer Field and was attended by more than 80 representatives of local businesses from Gugulethu’s host community. 

The aim of the Procurement Day was to share information on available opportunities and application procedures. It is the beginning of a continuous programme to ensure that local communities are aligned to the procurement strategy of the business. 

“Canyon Coal is committed to the upliftment and development of host communities where we operate. It is imperative that local entrepreneurs understand the procurement processes in order to fully take advantage of the opportunities that will arise from the construction and operation of the Gugulethu mine,” says Canyon Coal’s Procurement Manager Tom Pullen. 

Gugulethu Colliery is currently under construction and the expected output for the first 8-10 months of production is 1.2 million t/y of 5 500 kc NAR coal. The total investment earmarked to develop the mine is over R1.4 billion.

The success of the mine depends on reliable and professional suppliers. The Procurement Day is a platform to identify and verify local suppliers who are able to support Canyon Coal in the various categories of supply. 

It is also important to note that attendance, does not equate to being offered a contract, but it is an initiative by Canyon Coal to bring suppliers up to speed with its processes. 

Potential suppliers must pass all requirements and go through stringent background checks to be awarded a contract with the company. This also marks an exciting time for Canyon’s Gugulethu Colliery with the anticipation of fruitful operations to unfold in the coming years. 

“We are excited to embark upon long-term partnerships with local businesses in order to assist in their growth to the mutual benefit of us all,” Pullen adds.