Industry intelligence
Coal’s rags to riches
Vuslat Bayoglu, managing director of Zululand
Anthracite Colliery, speaking at the Junior Indaba.
As South Africa’s sole producer and exporter of prime
anthracite coal, Zululand Anthracite Colliery (ZAC)
plans to expand its mining operations and production
capacity in KwaZulu-Natal. Speaking at the Junior
Indaba, held at the Country Club in Auckland Park,
Johannesburg, recently, Vuslat Bayoglu, managing
director of ZAC, said the company is currently trying
to increase the life of its mine. About 26% of the
company is owned by the community and workers.
The community is represented by the Ingonyama Trust
led by King Goodwill Zwelithini. The king recently
made headlines in South Africa when he publicly
opposed the call for expropriation of the land under
traditional leaders. The Zululand mine is expected to
have several benefits for the community, which include
an investment in a community-run agricultural project
from which ZAC buys its produce.
After Rio Tinto sold the operation to Menar in
2016, production of sellable coal increased from an
average of 42 000 tons per month (tpm) to 54 000tpm,
and at least 1 350 jobs were saved. Menar holds a 74%
interest in ZAC and is the controlling shareholder of
junior coal mining company Canyon Coal, of which
Bayoglu is the executive chairperson. In addition,
the coal producer’s international market share also
increased. The United States, Brazil, Spain, and Ireland
are some of the countries to which ZAC exports its
coal.
New features at Electra Mining
From 10 to 14 September 2018, players in the
mining, manufacturing, electrical, and power
industries will look forward to engaging with
visitors and sharing information on their latest
products, services, and solutions at this year’s
Electra Mining Africa. The trade exhibition
will take place at the Expo Centre in Nasrec,
Johannesburg.
“There will be an exciting line-up of new products
and services, live demonstrations, and free-to-attend
seminars at this year’s Electra Mining Africa, and
visitors will benefit from the insight and information
they will gain,” says Gary Corin, managing director
of Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery, organisers
of the show. “New technologies and innovation
are influencing the way we do business and it’s
imperative that those in the industry keep up to date
with these trends.”
[4] MINING MIRROR AUGUST 2018
BAXTER ON
MINING’S FUTURE
Roger Baxter, CEO
of the Minerals
Council South
Africa, attended
the Junior Indaba
and participated in
a panel discussion
relating to the
current political,
regulatory,
operational,
and investment
environment for
junior miners in
Africa.
Baxter highlighted
the country’s
significant minerals
potential. “We
believe that the
emerging and junior
mining sectors
are critical to the
survival and future
of the South African
mining industry,”
he said. Baxter
added that it is
important to nurture
the environment,
which would in turn
encourage long-
term investment.
Baxter also
touched on the
current political
climate of the
country and
implications for the
mining industry.
“For the first time
in several years,
thanks to political
developments in
the ruling African
National Congress
and their impact at
national government
level, there now
exists a great deal
of hope for the
future of the mining
industry in South
Africa,” he said.
Each day will focus on a different theme; a new
feature added to this year’s show. Day one will focus
on the future of skills development. Electra Mining
Africa will have an artisans training centre, developed
in partnership with the SAJ Competency Training
Institute and the South African Capital Equipment
Export Council (SACEEC). The centre will be a fully
functional workshop where artisans can test their
skills against the highest standards of industry.
New products will be the focus on day two,
whereas on day three, visitors will be part of the
‘Local is Lekker’ South Africa day — a day to
celebrate local heritage. Safety takes the spotlight
on the fourth day, with diversity taking centre stage
on the final day of the show.
The show will also host industry speakers from
various industry associations, who will present at
the conferences.