Mining Mirror April 2019 | Page 7

Industry intelligence Wescoal exits JV at Khanyisa agreed to wind up the JV between them in accordance with the terms of their agreement. Wescoal will retain title to the Khanyisa Mine, including the Khanyisa Triangle section’s coal reserve and life of mine of four years. According to Dr Humphrey Mathe, interim CEO at Wescoal, this agreement enables Wescoal to exploit the coal reserve exclusively within its sales and marketing strategy. Wescoal will sell its 35% share in Aztolinx to Aztolinx for R100/share and pay R185- million over a nine-month period to Aztolinx for its Khanyisa Triangle interest. In exchange, Aztolinx will relinquish its right to purchase from Wescoal all coal extracted from the Khanyisa Triangle. “This transaction is small in quantum but meaningful for all parties. In departing from this joint venture, Wescoal effectively gains full commercial value of the operation and clears up the line of sight to market the coal. The combined group is now better positioned to meet increased demand, both from Eskom as well as other domestic and export customers,” says Mathe. The South African-based coal miner, trader, and supplier Wescoal has announced that its joint venture ( JV) with Uju Resources, Mwelase Mining, and Aztolinx, has terminated. The end of the JV means that Wescoal Mining will now have a direct marketing channel to sell the coal it currently mines at Khanyisa. Wescoal and Uju were shareholders holding 35% and 65%, respectively, in Aztolinx. The latter was established to exploit the Khanyisa Triangle reserve. Following a dispute which arose in 2018 and which led to litigation, all parties Wescoal’s joint venture with Uju Resources, Mwelase Mining, and Aztolinx, has come to an end. www.miningmirror.co.za APRIL 2019 MINING MIRROR [5]