Name and Location
Coal briquetting project, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Client
Octavovox, in which Mine Restoration Investments (MRI) holds a 51% interest through its subsidiary, Western Utilities Corporation.

Project Description
Surface and underground mining operations in South Africa produce an estimated 300-million tons of coal a year, creating significant residues such as dust and fines. These can typically represent up to 20% of the total run-of-mine (RoM)feed.

MRI is building a plant that will produce about 5 000 t/m of briquettes through the processing of coal fines from the Vaalkrantz colliery’s existing fines stockpiles and monthly fines production.

Value
Octavovox has secured R11-million to complete the project.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
MRI plans to fully commission its 5 000 t/m coal briquetting plant, in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, in November.

Initial coal briquette production started in October, following several delays in commissioning the plant, owing to excessive rainfall, which created a hazardous on-site working environment and an area inaccessible mine area for heavy-duty vehicles, halting operations at the plant.

MRI says despite regular monitoring of product specification, it depends on the quality of the fines produced by the RoM feedstock.

Final product specification and the sale of the produced briquettes are subject to final customer confirmation, which will be based on bulk tests conducted at the customer’s facilities over the next six weeks.

The Vaalkrantz mine has a first right of refusal to buy the coal briquettes; however, should it elect not to exercise this right, alternative customers have been identified.

Construction of the plant, which started in March 2013, is almost complete, with the final drying section of the plant being commissioned.

While MRI is focused on achieving full production from the Vryheid plant, it will also investigate the possibility of increasing the plant’s capacity.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
MRI, tel +27 12 345 4037, fax +27 12 345 4808 or email mvdberg@wucsa.com.