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Coal Mining

Coal mining is the industrial extraction of coal from underground seams or surface deposits for use as fuel and raw material. The sector encompasses opencast (open-pit) and underground mining methods, depending on the depth and geology of coal deposits. Coal mining is a major global industry, supplying thermal coal for electricity generation and metallurgical coal for steelmaking. Key coal-producing regions include China, India, the United States, Australia, Indonesia and South Africa, where the resource underpins energy security and export revenues. The industry employs millions worldwide, though it faces mounting pressure from climate policy, renewable energy competition and environmental concerns over air quality, water use and land rehabilitation. In Africa, South Africa dominates coal production, with significant reserves in Mpumalanga province feeding Eskom's coal-fired power stations and export terminals such as Richards Bay. Operations range from large mechanised mines operated by multinational companies to smaller artisanal workings. Coal mining's future is shaped by the global energy transition, with declining demand in developed markets offset by continued growth in Asia, particularly India, where state-owned Coal India remains the world's largest producer. The sector's history stretches back centuries, but industrialisation in the nineteenth century transformed coal into the backbone of modern economies.

Coal Mining News


Seriti Green’s Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Farm
Seriti unpacks big renewables ambition for coal heartland as first 155 MW wind project enters into operation
21st August 2026 By: Terence Creamer

The first 25 turbines at Seriti Green’s Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Farm, which is rising in the coal heartland of Mpumalanga within site of the giant Secunda coal-to-liquids complex and in close... 


Mine trucks lined up
Coal India plans Singapore trading hub in hunt for critical mineral assets, sources say
20th August 2026 By: Reuters

The world's largest coal producer, Coal India, is setting up its first overseas trading office in Singapore, aiming to diversify into trading iron-ore and critical and strategic minerals, two... 


Coal
Colombia coal output could rise 40% by 2030 with right measures, group says
20th August 2026 By: Reuters

Colombian coal industry association Fenalcarbon said on Wednesday the country's annual production could return to 90-million tons by 2030 if certain steps are taken, up from the group's 2026... 


Whitehaven's Maules Creek coal mine
Australia's Whitehaven Coal posts 29% drop in annual profit, shares fall
19th August 2026 By: Reuters

Australia's Whitehaven Coal reported a bigger-than-expected 29% drop in annual profit on Wednesday, hurt by lower realised coal prices, sending its shares more than 4% lower even as the miner... 


Why resilient communications have become essential to modern mining
Why resilient communications have become essential to modern mining
18th August 2026

By; Victoria Smith - Group Project Lead & Product Manager, Global Communications (part of the Elvey Group) Whether extracting platinum from kilometres below the Bushveld, managing vast iron ore... 


An image from Thungela
Thungela maintains production guidance on anticipated stronger second half performance
17th August 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Thermal coal producer and exporter Thungela Resources delivered an improved performance in the first half of this year, despite difficult market conditions and a stronger rand weighing on export... 


Nafasi Water Technologies, IDC turn mine-water waste into fertiliser inputs
14th August 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

In a strategic venture with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Nafasi Technologies has commissioned the first module of its purpose-designed waste sludge processing facility at the... 


Allen Makamure, Moses Madondo, Bernard Swanepoel.
AI’s efficiencies keeping even lower-quality operations going longer, energy event hears
7th August 2026 By: Martin Creamer

The increased efficiencies achieved by AI are ensuring that even lower quality operations are kept going for longer which benefits all stakeholders, Thungela Resources CEO Moses Madondo made clear... 


Seriti Green’s Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Farm
Seriti unpacks big renewables ambition for coal heartland as first 155 MW wind project enters into operation
3rd August 2026 By: Terence Creamer

The first 25 turbines at Seriti Green’s Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Farm, which is rising in the coal heartland of Mpumalanga within site of the giant Secunda coal-to-liquids complex and in close... 


Coal exploration
Yari Resources expands its coal resource base through acquisition
3rd August 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

ASX-listed coal exploration company Yari Resources is expanding its coal resource base in the Bowen Basin, in Queensland, Australia, by entering into a binding conditional agreement to acquire a... 


Process shows promise for brine pond treatment
31st July 2026 By: Devina Haripersad

A biological sulphate reduction process has shown potential to treat hypersaline brine ponds produced by coal mining operations. After successful bench-scale testing, pilot-scale work is now... 


Maules Creek coal mine
Whitehaven Coal logs 2026 output at top end of guidance, sees costs at low end
28th July 2026 By: Reuters

Australia's Whitehaven Coal said on Tuesday its yearly output and sales landed near the top of guidance range as its Queensland mines recovered, while full-year costs were set to come in near the... 


A coal mine in India
Coal India misses profit view on weak volumes, higher costs
27th July 2026 By: Reuters

Coal India, the world's largest coal miner, missed first-quarter profit expectations on Monday, on weaker production volumes and higher costs. Here are the details from the company's earnings report: 


CiDi equipment
China's CiDi eyes overseas sales of autonomous mining machines this year
24th July 2026 By: Reuters

CiDi, the Hong Kong-listed Chinese autonomous mining equipment maker, expects overseas deployments to grow this year as it expands beyond China, CE Albert Hu told Reuters. CiDi has equipped... 


Coal miners face limited funding options
Coal miners face limited funding options
24th July 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

Despite coal being a significant contributor to South Africa’s GDP and electricity generation, funding for new coal mines from commercial banks is limited in the international and local market.... 


TFR making progress on coal rail line improvements
TFR making progress on coal rail line improvements
24th July 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

South Africa has an abundance of coal reserves, but the coal mining sector’s competitiveness requires an efficient logistical network to move coal from mine to market. While the industry has faced... 


CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY
The development of the Maamba power station in Sinazongwe includes a dedicated coal mine on an 8.15 ha site to fuel the plant
Energy deal set to bolster Zambia mining
24th July 2026 By: Keabetswe Shilakwe

To help close Zambia’s 1 400 MW baseload electricity generation deficit and reduce its exposure to drought-affected hydroelectric supply, mining and energy investment holding company ZCCM... 


An image of Seifsa CEO Tafadzwa Chibanguza
Beneficiation, innovation take centre stage at MCCI conference
23rd July 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

With Middelburg at the heart of the South Africa’s power generation sector, providing about 80% of the country’s energy, there is a need to bolster the use of the region’s resources through... 


Anglo American's Los Bronces mine
Anglo flags first-half loss at diamonds, coal units; cuts copper cost outlook
23rd July 2026 By: Reuters

Anglo American reported broadly flat first-half copper production on Thursday and lowered its 2026 copper cost guidance, but said its diamonds and steelmaking coal businesses are expected to post... 


Allen Makamure, Moses Madondo, Bernard Swanepoel.
AI’s efficiencies keeping even lower quality operations going longer, energy event hears
22nd July 2026 By: Martin Creamer

The increased efficiencies achieved by AI are ensuring that even lower quality operations are kept going for longer which benefits all stakeholders, Thungela Resources CEO Moses Madondo made clear... 


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