Mining in focus
continent, where there is still a significant
energy shortfall. Many of the larger African
economies need to have affordable and
reliable power, and South Africa is thus
ideally positioned to take advantage of
regional demand that will be driven by
countries north of its borders.
With more and more world funding
organisations scaling down on financing
coal fired power stations, it might be in the
interest of the entire coal mining sector
to work towards genuinely cleaning up
its act. According to Sporton, there are
several technologies being developed that
will ensure coal mining becomes more
environmentally friendly.
“The best way to reduce emissions is
supercritical or ultra-super-critical plants,
also called high efficiency low emissions.
Compared with older plants these ultra-
super-critical plants will emit close to
30% less CO2. Thus, with a 1% increase in
efficiency, there will be a 3% reduction in
CO2 emissions,” said Sporton.
South Africa’s two controversial power
stations, Medupi and Kusile, are both high
technology super-critical plants, although if
the country, and probably any other country
in Africa, ever considers building more
coal-fired power stations, they will have to
be ultra-super-critical plants incorporating
the best high-end technology available.
Sporton said it would be a challenge to
upgrade existing power stations but not
impossible. “You can upgrade the boiler to
become more efficient. China has been able
to this, but it is not easy,” he said.
If South Africa intends on transforming
its energy sector to be more reliant on
renewable resources, the transition needs
to be carefully planned and managed.
According to Ndavhe Mareda, CEO of
Black Royalty Minerals, one of the up
and coming junior coal miners in South
Africa, reliable, cost-effective electricity is
vital, not only to improving people’s lives
but to the economy’s ability to attract
investment and create jobs.
“A rapid and aggressive transition
away from coal will put the entire
economy at risk. We need to strike the
right balance,” Mareda told Mining
Mirror recently. “It is important to
recognise that coal provides 76% of
South Africa’s energy at present, and the
country is still investing large amounts
of money in new coal-generation. In
addition, the country has large reserves
of coal. It is thus important that the
nation gets a proper return on its
investment in this technology,” he added.
Mareda recognises the important
of renewable energy but questions its
ability to provide the all-important base
power that any economy depends on.
“Renewables are subject to the vagaries
of unpredictable weather patterns, which
means that energy generation will usually
not coincide with energy demand. Energy
[22] MINING MIRROR JULY 2019
Unpredictable renewables
Coal mining has been a bedrock of the South African economy for many years.
www.miningmirror.co.za