With a total resource estimate of 219-million tonnes of coal and a projected production target of 7.2-million tonnes a year, coal miner Canyon Coal – a subsidiary of diversified mining investment group Menar – expects construction of the new Sukuma coal mine to start once all legislative authorisations have been obtained.

Canyon Coal expects development of the mine, located in Vereeniging, Gauteng, to cost about R1.5-billion.

The mine’s civil construction will take about 18 months to complete.

“The decision to develop the Sukuma project forms part of Menar’s strategy of growing its portfolio of mining assets in South Africa,” says Menar projects head Gerhard Cronje.

The authorisations, including an environmental authorisation and a water use licence, are expected after extensive studies, including an environmental-impact assessment (EIA), were conducted to evaluate the impact of the project area.

These are relevant to adequately prepare suitable mitigation measures to reduce the impact of greenfield mine development on the natural environment.

“The mining right and EIA were submitted to the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources in the second half of 2024,” says Cronje.

The estimated life-of-mine is about 30 years and the mine has been designed to reach a production target of 600 000 t a month of run-of-mine (RoM) coal, while steady-state production will gradually be achieved over a six-month period.

In terms of exploration, various drilling campaigns have been undertaken to enhance the geological confidence of the reserve, he says, adding that landowner engagements have also progressed to an advanced stage.

From the Baseline

Sukuma will be mined using an opencast method, with fleets of trucks and shovel equipment to be acquired to achieve the proposed production volume.

The construction of the on-site processing plant, with a 1 000 t/h processing capacity, forms part of the development of the Sukuma project, which will ensure sufficient supply of the specified grade product.

Cronje says this will ensure the effective processing of RoM coal into saleable product, on site, and that the construction timeline for the processing plant is estimated at 18 months.

Further, Menar is investigating the option of incorporating solar energy at the proposed administration buildings of the Sukuma Colliery to lower mine emissions.

Getting the Job Done

The mine is expected to create about 550 direct jobs, in addition to employees of the appointed contractors and ancillary service providers, depending on available skills.

Cronje stresses that preference will be given to local communities with regard to the procurement of local goods and services, in addition to recruiting workers from near-mine communities during project startup.

The company understands that establishing a new mine requires consultation with near-mine communities and their availing themselves of job opportunities.

Most importantly, social and labour plans must be in place when engaging with local communities on issues such as labour and employment opportunities, he adds.

A new mine offers a multitude of economic benefits for the surrounding communities, as it supports skills development – a critical component for regional economic upliftment and developing the national economy.

He also highlights that Menar is dedicated to promoting youth empowerment through initiatives such as bursary programmes, and that after the mine’s development is complete, the company will offer internships, learnerships and training programmes to nurture skills development in the area.

“Despite narrative perceptions, coal remains an indispensable input in the manufacture of a variety of chemical, steel and construction products. Even with energy generation, coal accounts for more than 70% of South Africa’s energy mix and continues to contribute significantly to the South African economy,” concludes Cronje.