THE BIG BOYS

Being a natural resource coal is extremely valuable to its owners. According to the World Coal Association over 6185 million tonnes of coal is currently being produced worldwide. The top mining countries are China, the USA, India, Australia, and South Africa. In most cases countries mine coal for personal usage leaving only a small percentage to export.   According to the International Energy Agency in 2010 South Africa was producing 225 million tonnes of coal.

Mining in South Africa is the cornerstone of the economy. There are a number of coalfields across South Africa. The main geographical sites are located in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Free State, Kwazulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape province. Most of the mines are developed around concentrated areas and towns such as Witbank, Ermelo, Waterberg, Highveld and Secunda. South Africa has a substantial amount of coal reserves, which are found at varying depths around the centre basin of the country. The industry sees both surface mining and underground mining exploiting the differentiated coal for specific purposes. The Witbank coalfield at present is the most important, bringing in large quantities of coal. However “South Africa has some 6000 derelict and ownerless mines,” Fourie said. “The problem is that more and more mines are coming near the end of their lives.”

(Radio Netherlands WorldWide Africa. Miriam Mannak. 10.02.12).

A few dominant private companies concentrate South Africa’s coal mining sector. These include Anglo America, Xstrata, BHP (Billiton Energy Coal South Africa), Sasol and Exxaro. Anglo America owns eight coalmines in South Africa in the Witbank area; some of these are Goedehoop, Greenside, Klienkopje and Landau. As well as this the company plans to invest in the Waterberg area. Xstrata has a mix of 13 underground mines and is considered the 3^rd largest company exporting coal out of South Africa. BHP is the largest coal exporter for South Africa. The company operates in Doglas, Khatala, Klipspruit and Middleburg which all fall into the Mpumalanga Province. BHP mainly exports to South America, Europe, Far East and parts of Africa. This company also has a large contract with Eskom, South Africa’s local utility company for electricity. Sasol are involved with coal mining mostly for petrochemical industries and the conversion of coal to liquids. The company has mines in the Highveld, and the North East of Secunda. Their mine Thubelisha is said to reach its full capacity by 2015 and hold a lifespan of 32 to 35 years. 

(Africa Mining Projects, Ederhand).