Australia- and Johannesburg-listed MC Mining has appointed chairperson Jianheng (Albert) Deng as interim MD and CEO, with effect from July 29, following the resignation of Yi (Christine) He as MD and CEO. She will, however, continue to serve on the company's board as a nonexecutive director.

The coal exploration, development and mining company, with assets in South Africa, says He's decision to resign as MD and CEO follows the successful conclusion of the controlling investment in the company by Kinetic Development Group (KDG), the current ongoing commissioning of the flagship Makhado hard coking coal project and the company's strategic transitioning from an exploration and development group into an operating coal producer.

“It has been a privilege to lead MC Mining and its people through this transformation. With the KDG investment concluded, Makhado well on its way to commissioning and the group firmly established as an operating producer, now is the right time to hand over executive leadership. I remain fully committed to the company as a nonexecutive director and as a long-standing shareholder and I look forward to supporting the board and the incoming leadership in the next phase of the company's growth,” says He.

Deng thanked He for her "outstanding leadership and dedication", saying she guided the company through one of the most significant periods in its history, marked by the recapitalisation of the company, bringing the Makhado project into production and repositioning the group as an operating coal producer.

"We are delighted that the company will continue to benefit from her experience and her long association with MC Mining in her continuing role as a nonexecutive director. The board has asked me to take on the role of interim MD and CEO to ensure continuity while we decide on the arrangements for a permanent solution for the CEO role,” he adds.

The Makhado project, in Limpopo, has been designed to produce about 800 000 t/y of hard coking coal at steady state. Openpit mining started in late 2025 and hot commissioning of the coal handling and preparation plant were completed in the second quarter of this year.