https://www.miningweekly.com

Anglo’s July Ndlovu says coal underpins societal development

20th August 2020

By: Simone Liedtke

Creamer Media Social Media Editor & Senior Writer

     

Font size: - +

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Despite coal being a commodity “that some have chosen to hate”, Anglo American Coal South Africa CEO July Ndlovu says it will continue to remain relevant, as it “underpins societal development”.

Ndlovu, recently appointed as World Coal Association chairperson, emphasised during the virtual Coal Industry Day on August 20 that coal would continue to be needed, as it was a commodity used not only for energy generation, as is commonly assumed, but also as an important enabler in the steel and cement industries, which both underpin infrastructure development.

Infrastructure development, he added, was a global marker for economic development and advancement.

Another narrative for the commodity highlighted by Ndlovu was that the coal sector, in all of its facets, was also a significant employer across the world.

“It is a significant employer, especially if you consider the network that relies on coal. The part [the industry] plays in global economic development is far more significant than what the story sometimes tells,” he explained.

Coal, specifically, employs over six-million people globally, while the steel and cement industries employ over six-million and two-million people, respectively.

It is for these reasons that Ndlovu believes coal has a future, despite the “first-world narrative” promoting the end of coal.

“We forget that there is a significant part of this world, the developing world, where coal [and its use] is still growing,” he said, noting that this could be another reason why coal has become a “hated” commodity.

In addition, Ndlovu disagreed with the “all coal will be replaced by renewables” sentiment and said coal would rather become a significant enabler to renewable energies through the provision of baseload power generation in some form or another.

“Coal still has a significant role to play,” he asserted, noting that while its role may have changed over time, it would still be “the single largest source of power generation across the globe”.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

The content you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION