Industry intelligence
Leeuwpan roars again
Coal mining company Exxaro’s Leeuwpan coal
mine, close to Delmas in Mpumalanga, was,
until recently, at risk of running out of coal.
However, on Friday, 28 September, Leeuwpan’s
team breathed a sigh of relief as a new road
made way for it to access precious coal reserves.
“Leeuwpan needed to develop an area
where it could mine another 5.1 million
tons per annum (Mtpa) to extend its life by
a further 10 years,” says Mervin Govender,
Exxaro Group projects manager.
A national road — the R50 — ran over the
identified area and another private access road,
the Thaba Chueu Mine (TCM) road servicing
the nearby silica mine, was also affected. Both
roads needed to be redirected in parts for
Leeuwpan to reach the new mining area.
It was a race against time. “A project like
this would normally take 14 months, but
Exxaro needed it completed in eight
months to avoid the mine closing in 2019,”
says Govender.
The project team went one step further
and completed it two months ahead of a
fast-tracked schedule. The R50 and TCM
roads were handed over to Exxaro at the
end of August and opened to the public on
28 September. As testimony to the quality
of work despite extreme time pressures, the
Department of Public Works, Roads and
Transport signed off the road without any
amendments; the first time ever that a public
road has been completed to the department’s
complete satisfaction.
“The successful completion of the
construction of the R50 deviation and new
TCM access road now opens up the OI block
for mining and extends the life of Leeuwpan
coal mine, resulting in significant investment
and economic growth for the Delmas area,”
says Nombasa Tsengwa, executive head coal
operations. .
Delegates open the Khanye Colliery.
estimated lifespan of 15 years. Canyon is also
completing a processing plant on the mine.
Daniel Jaeggi, president of Mercuria, a
Swiss-based company and investment partner
of Canyon, said, “We are pleased that there
is stability now in the mining sector. When I
Canyon Coal has opened its Khanye Colliery
with a blast, following a detonation procedure
led by Mineral Resources Minister Gwede
Mantashe in Bronkhorstspruit recently.
Part of the ceremony, the blast occurred
after Mantashe, Canyon managing director
Vuslat Bayoglu, and other stakeholders pressed
detonators linked to the explosives on the mine
site. Guests watched live images of the blast
from a big screen where the ceremony was
being held under a marquee.
Mantashe also unveiled the Khanye Colliery
plaque. In his keynote address, Mantashe
emphasised the importance of investors
speaking positively about the mining sector
in South Africa. He said the mining sector
had to improve productivity. “We have to
produce optimally. We have resources we are
not using; mines that are not being mined.
We must improve productivity. That is why
I’m excited by the presentation about your
plans,” Mantashe said, referring to Canyon’s
investment plans.
He praised Canyon for its plans to ramp
up production. Canyon director Rudzani
Mudogwa, whose company Kalyana Resources
is an empowerment partner, provided a
high-level presentation about Canyon’s plans,
including Khanye operations. Khanye has
reserves of about 39 million tons with an
Canyon opens with a blast
Minister of Mineral Resources, Gwede Mantashe (middle), opened Canyon Coal’s Khanye Colliery near
Bronkhorstspruit recently.
www.miningmirror.co.za
discuss with people abroad, I share with them
the enthusiasm about South Africa. I hope this
will help with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s
agenda on economic recovery.”
Swiss ambassador Helene Budliger-Artieda
hailed the opening of Khanye, saying it was
an indication of good relations between South
Africa and Switzerland. She praised the role
Canyon plays in boosting small businesses by
procuring goods from them. She encouraged
the company to do more, saying Switzerland’s
economy is dominated by small businesses.
She also recognised Canyon’s participation
in Better Coal, a voluntary international
organisation that promotes responsible and
ethical mining.
Prince George Mahlangu, who represented
the traditional authority, said the mining
would help alleviate poverty in the area by
providing jobs. It was important for Canyon to
continue engaging with the local community
to ensure sustainable mining and community
stability.
Bayoglu said he was pleased with the new
Mining Charter because it provides a ‘win-win’
situation for all stakeholders.
FEBRUARY 2019 MINING MIRROR [7]