Keaton CEO Mandi Glad
Photo by: Duane Daws
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The Department of Water and Sanitation has granted JSE-listed coal mining company Keaton Energy’s Moabsvelden coal project, near Delmas, in Mpumalanga, an integrated water use licence (IWUL).
Keaton CEO Mandi Glad on Wednesday highlighted that the Moabsvelden project had, therefore, become “fully permitted” as it had already been awarded its mining right and environmental authorisation in terms of the National Environmental Management Act.
She noted that Moabsvelden is situated adjacent to Keaton’s existing Vanggatfontein colliery and would benefit from shared infrastructure and reduced operating costs.
Keaton envisages that about four-million tons a year of coal will be produced from the combined operations.
“We are pleased that the IWUL has been awarded. We can now finalise offtake negotiations with the various parties who expressed an interest in purchasing coal from Moabsvelden. This, in turn, will allow the washing plant configuration to be finalised and funding for the development to be closed,” Glad said.