SA Mining February 2020

®

CONSISTENCY.
IT’S WHAT

WE’RE MADE OF.

A range of products built on the Inspiring growth through the consistent delivery of
foundation of quality and durability solutions that empower our people and our customers.
Aggregates
Afrimat Limited has established a strong foothold in contracting services through its
Concrete Based Contracting International division operating from the Western Cape and Gauteng.
Products Services include mobile crushing, screening, drilling and blasting, commercial quarries
Industrial and readymix which offers mobility beyond fixed areas of operation.
Minerals
Contracting Afrimat offers services for bulk blasting in quarry and opencast mining and specialised
International restricted blasting in built-up areas and also blast designs for specialised blasting needs.

Commodities The division operates in South Africa and internationally providing the full service
package for all drilling and blasting, mobile hard rock crushing and screening services,
load and haul and readymix solutions.

Contracting International applies our expertise and years of experience in these fields to
prepare bids for major clients in the construction, quarry and mining industry.

Contracting International is part of Afrimat Limited, a leading black empowered open
pit mining company.

www.afrimat.co.za Tel +27 21 917 8840 Fax +27 21 914 1174 [email protected]

AFRICA

IRON ORE

ASPIRATIONS

Afrimat bucks the trend Northern Cape asset – an area which hosts performance indicators” and pinpointing the
“among the highest iron ore grades and low root causes hampering business progress.
By Nelendhre Moodley levels of contaminants in the country”.
“We run the business ultra-e iciently
JSE-listed open-pit mining Van Heerden is confident that the and remain focused on continuous plant
company Afrimat will invest company will finalise an iron ore acquisition and equipment maintenance to ensure
between R300-million and R500m to by early 2020. reliability,” says Van Heerden.
unlock further opportunities in iron
ore and industrial minerals, CEO Afrimat’s well-diversified portfolio The company recently invested R36.9m
Andries van Heerden tells SA Mining in an consists of industrial materials, construction in the development of a fixed crushing plant
exclusive interview. materials and its best performer, bulk which will improve the operational e iciency
commodities, which li ed the segments of the processing facility.
Aside from hoping to ink an industrial revenue stream by 77.5%, following
minerals acquisition in the next few months, favourable pricing and an increase in iron Afrimat expects to commission the
the miner is also evaluating potential iron ore volumes, Van Heerden said at the crushing plant by February 2020, following
ore opportunities aimed at supplementing presentation of the company’s financial which it hopes to reduce costs. While not
its existing iron ore portfolio. results for six months ended 31 August 2019. significant, it would help in bringing down
overall costs.
According to Afrimat, which produces “The bulk commodities business
72 500 tonnes of iron ore per month, its contributed 30% to overall revenue and 43% “Other interventions include keeping
iron ore portfolio has proved to be highly to operating profit. We have achieved this by a close eye on and analysing the market
lucrative for the diversified miner. actively seeking out available opportunities to ensure that we make the most of
and acting speedily on them. This includes opportunities presented, including targeting
As such, it is keen to increase production being on hand to take up any additional opportunities from the development of
and extend the current life of its star capacity on the Saldanha rail line whenever the multibillion-dollar Rovuma liquefied
performer, the Demaneng iron ore mine it was available.” natural gas (LNG) project being developed
located in the Northern Cape. jointly by Exxon Mobil and Italy’s oil and gas
EFFICIENCY IS KEY
Demaneng, purchased three years ago, Coupled with the JSE-listed entities appetite
was resuscitated following its acquisition as for robust growth is its dedication to
an entity in business rescue. continuous improvement. E orts towards
e iciency improvements include fine-
“We are looking to acquire more iron ore tuning the business, implementing a “really
good information system to identify key
“deposits in the area around the Demaneng “

project in order to bolster the life of mine
to beyond 20 years. When we acquired the
operation, it had a life of mine of just five
years – we have since doubled the life of
mine and are now looking at increasing it
beyond 20 years,” Van Heerden says of the

Afrimat is hoping to ink an industrial minerals
acquisition in the next few months.
– Van Heerden

50 SA MINING JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2020

Dumper trucks load at Afrimat’s R300m to R500m
Demaneng Iron Ore Mine in Kathu –
Investment to unlock
Northern Cape. opportunities in iron

ore and industrial
minerals

company Eni in Mozambique.” ■ Career-centred training – which AFRIMAT BUCKS THE TREND
Afrimat entered the Mozambican market According to Van Heerden, Afrimat
includes artisan training (fitters, has delivered compounded average
about four years ago and is well positioned boilermakers, electricians, etc.) and growth in profits of 20% year on year
to supply construction materials for internship programmes (a two-year for the past 10 years. “So it is very
infrastructure development ahead of the programme aimed at o ering youngsters possible for a company whose values
Rovuma LNG project construction. from tertiary institutions workplace are underpinned by good principles
experience). to grow in the South African market,”
“We have a quarry that is close to the he says.
project and we have established a brick- and ■ Internal leadership programmes for
block-making factory to service the LNG Andries van Heerden.
project as it develops. Afrimat has received career development aimed at both senior
a few orders to undertake peripheral work management and junior management
ahead of project development.” sta , including MBA degrees and
sponsorship to attend programmes at
TRAINING AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT international institutions, among others.
“We are building this business based “Afrimat’s weekly business performance
on excellence and integrity which is review o ers it feedback and insight into
underpinned by the need for competent how the organisation and its people are
people that have been properly trained and performing, including highlighting aspects
developed.” that should be changed or amended,” says
Van Heerden.
According to Van Heerden, Afrimat o ers Over the past five years, Afrimat
three categories of training: undertook 17 000 training and skills
development interventions for its 2 500
■ Basic skills development (adult employees.

education, operator training, etc.).

“On average, every individual has
undertaken between two and three
training interventions in the past five
years. We also ensure that the culture of
entrepreneurship is nurtured and that
employees remain highly motivated. To
achieve this, team leaders flag problems
early so as to ensure that suitable
interventions are undertaken.” ■

SA MINING JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2020 51

AFRICA

AFDB APPROVES $400-MILLION FOR
MOZAMBIQUE’S LNG PROJECT
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) recently approved
$400-million to support the building of an integrated liquefied © ISTOCK – VladKol
natural gas (LNG) plant, including a liquefaction facility in
Mozambique. The Mozambique LNG Area 1 Project, ranked Africa’s discoveries in the past two decades. The LNG liquefaction plant
single largest foreign direct investment to date, comprises a global will have a production capacity of 12.88 MTPA. The project is the
team of energy developers and operators, led by Total alongside first of several LNG trains expected to undergo development in the
Mitsui, Oil India, ONGC Videsh, Bharat Petroleum, PTT Exploration, northern part of the country. Mozambique is expected to become
as well as Mozambique’s national oil and gas company ENH. one of the world’s largest LNG exporters.

Commenting on the approval, bank group president Akinwumi
Adesina said: “Through its participation, the African Development
Bank again demonstrates its leading role in supporting Africa’s
transformation. The catalytic e ect brought about by the
bank is strategically aimed to help transform Mozambique
from ‘developing’ to ‘developed’ nation. Working closely with
the Government of Mozambique, we can ensure that the local
population reaps the benefits from its nascent natural gas value
chain, thus creating growth opportunities and widespread
industrialisation, while at the same time accelerating regional
integration across Southern Africa.”

In June this year, the group of investors reached final
investment decision on the project, which carries a price
tag in excess of $20-billion, thereby facilitating the initial
commercialisation of one of the world’s most important gas

NEW HYBRID POWER PLANT
TO DELIVER COST SAVINGS AT SYAMA

ASX-listed Resolute Mining will partner with power generation together for several years, we know Aggreko is the right
provider Aggreko for the development of a new hybrid modular partner to support us as we integrate renewable energy into
power station at the company’s Syama Gold Mine in Mali. our Syama operation.”
The new power plant will combine solar, battery and thermal
generation technologies in one integrated power solution to The new plant will be delivered in two stages. Stage 1
ensure optimal e iciency, reduced energy costs, and positive is expected to be completed in 2020 and will comprise the
environmental outcomes, the company said. installation of three new thermal energy Modular Block
generators and a battery storage system. The new Modular
Once fully operational, the new power plant is expected to Block units will provide 30MW of power and will incorporate an
reduce Syama’s power costs by around 40%. additional 10MW Y-cube battery storage system.

CEO John Welborn said he was pleased that the company The second stage will consist of the installation of an
had secured an innovative low-cost power solution for additional 10MW Modular Block in 2022 and the construction of
Syama: “Identifying and adopting world-class technologies to a 20MW solar power system.
improve our operations is fundamental to achieving Resolute’s
ambitions. The new Syama hybrid power solution will lower
our power costs at Syama by approximately 40% while
significantly reducing our carbon emissions. Having worked

52 SA MINING JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2020

If its not INVAL, it’s not Invincible

TRANSPORT

& EARTHMOVING

MINING
TYRES
Technology and sustainability trends

By John Martin: VP Southern Africa, Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group

There was a time when the thought However, with the increasing e iciency operator and a greater reliance on GPS and
of an autonomously driven haul and operational agility of in-pit crushing and telemetrics, these vehicles will need to rely
truck or an intelligent mining tyre conveying (IPCC), smaller trucks may well heavily on tyre pressure monitoring systems
that told a dashboard it was low play a more important role in extracting the to indicate critical and impending changes
on air would have been hard to operational e iciencies of the ever-increasing in pressure, heat build-up and overall tyre
believe, but these trends, many mirroring popularity of the mass delivery capabilities performance.
those of the automotive industry, are already of IPCC systems. Smaller equipment will
in use in mines around the world, and aren’t also o er additional exploitation e iciencies “Smart” mining tyres of the future will
so far away from the Southern African through lesser dilution factors of lower-grade have a host of intelligent capabilities and
market. ore structures, allowing for more selective reporting mechanisms, captured in big
mining techniques. data pools to drive informed, real-time
As more and more segments of our decision making and more meaningful
industry become automated, and as mining 1 000 per year contributions to improved operational
operations simultaneously continue to place performances. Smart construction materials
greater focus on sustainability charters, what The number of haul and compounds will help tyres see longer
is the current and future role of mining tyres truck tyres the average and multiple lives as greater focus is placed
and mining tyre management? on repairs and retreading solutions, as well
mine scraps as tyre recycling, as a means of promoting
This sometimes-forgotten piece of a sustainable circular economy. Mining tyre
the equation can play a significant role Despite the potential application of management tooling and processes, too,
in how mines keep up with technology smaller equipment, the demand for more will equally require innovative redesign
while systematically reducing their carbon durable and robust tyres will remain, to improve safety and overall operational
footprint. continuously inciting manufacturers to e iciency.
consider greener, smarter compounds and
As mine operators continue to introduce construction materials, to lower operating Globally, mines are eager to solve one
and expand on truck fleets embedded with costs and reduce the carbon footprint of of our planet’s biggest environmental
increasing levels of artificial intelligence mining. challenges: scrapped mining tyres. The
(AI) and place a greater dependence on the average mine scraps around 1 000 haul
AI data, tyre service providers too will have Innovative hauling solutions through truck tyres every year. For many mine sites,
to keep pace. AI in so ware solutions will the introduction of hydrogen-powered and a recycling service is simply not available
certainly need to be enhanced. Predictive battery-powered haul trucks are currently due to the lack of, or weak, legislation which
maintenance planning and analytical being tested, however autonomously has relegated tyres to the lower end of the
capabilities will become the norm: instead operated haul trucks are only a few years recycling hierarchy.
of taking a tyre out of production to repair away from being commonplace on many
damage, future-focused data will indicate mine sites around Southern Africa. With no The mining industry collaborating with
when preventive maintenance can best its service partners can work together to
optimise a tyre’s uptime, performance and bring more advanced tyre recycling solutions
lifespan. forward – ones that could result in the
breakdown of tyres and tyre components
With both big-picture and real-time into their original reusable materials. Our
insight into everything from tyre wear to mining community can make significant
usage, repairs and scrapping, mines and headway in the overall environmental impact
maintenance teams can analyse and make it currently has. Instead of a cradle-to-grave
the most informed decisions that will, approach to tyre management, service
ultimately, lead to keeping tyres operating providers can do more for their mining
longer. Furthermore, the technology behind customers with a cradle-to-cradle approach
the tyre management system allows the that realises a true circular economy of the
mining tyre service provider to best align their tyre components.
work scheduling with the goals of the mine
customer. For many years, tyres have largely
escaped industry’s attention in supporting
Original equipment manufacturers and tyre their respective sustainability charters, but
manufacturers, acutely aware of sustainability recycling solutions will become a critically
and e iciency targets, will probably continue important component of sustainability
to collaborate closely to deliver solutions that opportunities for both industry and
also meet the growing demand for equipment environment. ■
that’s bigger and faster.

54 SA MINING JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2020

Defining Tyre Management

Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group specialises in a complete range of tyre KalTireMining.com
management services in over 20 countries. Our skilled workforce
performs according to our global safety and operating standards, and
focuses on extracting the maximum value from tyres and related assets
for mining customers.

As an independent tyre dealer with 45 years’ experience, we ensure
customers get the right product for the right application. Through
continuous innovation, we are able to meet the evolving needs of mining
customers and help them make the most of their tyre investments.

TRANSPORT

& EARTHMOVING

NEW HEAD OFFICE
FOR BARLOWORLD

EQUIPMENT

Barloworld Equipment recently unveiled its new head office THE RUBBLE
and flagship Caterpillar Earthmoving Equipment showroom in MASTER RM 90GO!
Isando on the East Rand. 
REDEFINES
The new development consists of a head office and a VERSATILITY
showroom, housed in a series of elegant curved forms. The
new campus, developed in conjunction with Eris Property A recent installation of the Rubble Master RM 90GO! Impact
Group, is currently under construction, with the showroom Crusher at a marble quarry in Namibia has opened up a
and head office already completed. number of new alternative revenue streams for the owners,
Pilot Crushtec explained in a statement. According to the
“The new head office buildings through forward-looking equipment manufacturer, there were two options for the
design will deliver a productive agile working environment miner to grow the business. They could either produce more
dedicated to employee well-being ensuring Barloworld marble, which was undesirable as that would compromise
Equipment staff are able to provide exceptional customer the lifespan of the quarry, or they could use the waste
performance,” said Emmy Leeka, CEO of Barloworld materials that continuously piled up. A decision was made
Equipment. The most immediately noticeable feature of to use the waste materials.
the new Barloworld Equipment showroom structure is its
elongated front-facing bubble profile, which was inspired by “Initially they were using the jaw crusher and screen
the curved shape of the Caterpillar excavator tread. “Not only to do single-stage crushing, but were achieving very low
is this an iconic visual tribute to the legendary earthmoving volumes,” explains Fernando Abelho, Africa sales manager
equipment showcased within, but it also allows this huge at Pilot Crushtec. With the Rubble Master RM90GO! in place,
machinery to be comfortably exhibited in the voluminous there now exists a thorough two-stage crushing process.
interior space that this design creates,” the company said.
Internationally, Barloworld Equipment is the official dealer for “You have your first stage that will generally round off
Caterpillar Equipment in numerous African countries, as well the material from 600mm to around 100mm. The second
as operating in Europe and Russia. At home in Isando, South stage will then further reduce the size from 100mm
Africa, their head office building boasts a number of world- down to about 25mm. By installing the Rubble Master
beating firsts, including its showroom – a first of a kind in the RM90GO! client production has almost tripled. They are
country dedicated to heavy earthmoving equipment – which at a point where they have to find more clients for their
is split into two zones, namely “tyre” and “track” product industrial products.”
categories, with both open and enclosed areas.
The philosophy behind the design of the Rubble Master
has always been simplicity in operation and maintenance
without compromising on quality and performance. “The
Rubble Master is really easy to run. The control panel
literally has four buttons that get the machine going. You
push three buttons, and you are ready to start crushing. This
machine is a low-noise, high-performance crusher suitable
for the widest range of applications.”

56 SA MINING JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2020



COLUMN

ACCENTURE

MINING NEW VALUE
FROM THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
In this era of epic disruption, circular business
models are challenging the status quo, natural resources in “closed-loop” cycles. What’s
increasing pressure on mining companies to more, these new circular business models are
adapt fast, embrace change and stay relevant. disrupting historical links between ownership and
sales growth. In the automotive sector, for example,

Shi ing downstream demand is creating ride-sharing models mean that by 2035 the global

risk as more innovative players capitalise on inventory of passenger vehicles in use may be 25%

emerging opportunities to monetise circularity. smaller than historical models would suggest. And

By taking the right steps today, mining and metals construction and mining equipment manufacturer

companies can reposition for success to create Caterpillar takes back over 80 000 tonnes of product

sustainable new revenue streams in the circular from customers annually and remanufactures it

economy. into a good-as-new condition. If all the innovation

THE FUTURE IN FLUX is happening downstream, mining and metals

The shi to the circular economy is impacting all companies risk losing market share.

aspects of the mining and metals industry. Take CHANGING DEMAND PATTERNS

gold, for example. At today’s prices, the gold in one Rachael Bartels These changes are converging against a backdrop
mobile phone is worth about $1 and 41 mobile of potentially slowing demand for many metals
phones can yield as much gold as one tonne of Senior MD, Accenture as economies move to a post-industrial model.

gold ore. So, should mining companies switch Chemicals & Natural China is pivoting from infrastructure and

their attention from tried-and-tested traditional Resources manufacturing towards services and consumer

exploration methods to focus instead on urban spending. Some emerging economies may

mining in electronic waste dumps? Let’s run a quick fact check. leapfrog the resource-intensive stage of industrialisation altogether.

Annual gold production was just over 3 000 tonnes in 2017, so to Consequently, we’ll probably reach peak demand for steel earlier than

get the equivalent volume from urban mining would require 95 billion past trajectories of the mature economies’ development paths would

discarded phones. Considering there are “only” about five billion suggest. With some estimates now anticipating that world population

mobile phones in circulation, it looks like we’ll be mining gold ore will peak between eight and nine billion by mid-century, mining and

for a while to come. However, across the entire mining and metals metals companies could face three concurrent trends that suppress

industry, as in gold, supply chains demand below forecast: post-

are changing – raising questions as industrial economies; population

to how future-ready incumbents are decline; and increased circularity.

to respond as markets move. NEW THREATS AND

RISING TO THE RECYCLING OPPORTUNITIES
CHALLENGE On the flip side, the new technologies

As the global recycling market for © ISTOCK – CinemaHopeDesign that are defining the Fourth

metals matures and grows, mining Industrial Revolution are also driving

and metals companies must adapt demand for new commodities.

accordingly. Today, ferrous scrap According to the World Bank, the

is the most recycled material transition to a low-carbon economy

worldwide. According to the Bureau will see increased demand for a wide

of International Recycling, 40% range of base and precious metals,

of steel production is made from including cobalt, lithium and rare

scrap and the size of the metals earth elements, as well as silver,

recycling market is projected nickel, lead and zinc. Glencore, the

to grow from $277-billion in 2015 to $406-billion by 2020, at an world’s largest cobalt producer, has found that meeting the Clean

estimated compound annual growth rate of 8%. It’s a similar picture Energy Ministerial target of 30 million electric vehicle sales by 2030

for aluminum and copper. And for precious metals, the rates are even would require 314kt of cobalt per year by 2030 – more than triple

higher. the demand in 2017. At this rate, current reserves would last for only

The issue for mining and metals companies is twofold: firstly, 23 years, so innovative alternatives will be required. The challenge,

they’re not always well positioned to monetise the recycling flow; therefore, for mining and metals companies is to work out where best

and secondly, increased circularity will a ect primary demand. to focus in this shi ing marketplace and how best to take advantage of

Furthermore, as waste and material losses are eliminated over time, the circular economy and cleantech trends.

for example, as we move to additive manufacturing, the knock-on To keep pace with the frontrunners, downstream disruptors, and

e ect on primary demand will probably be significant. succeed in the circular economy, mining and metals companies must

MINING AND METALS COMPANIES AT RISK start looking at their portfolios to assess where the risks of decreased

As circular models are increasingly adopted by innovative companies demand or substitution loom largest. It’s vital to understand which

further down the materials supply chain, failure to get to grips with materials can be recovered most e ectively, and where new circular

the circular economy puts mining and metals companies at risk. business models downstream could present threats or opportunities.

Manufacturers are getting better at recovering their investment in They then need to innovate their business models to accelerate their

transition to the circular economy. ■

58 SA MINING JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2020

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COLUMN

UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND

SA COAL ABOUND
OPPORTUNITIESouth African coal as it is currently
Hemisphere ignite and burn out quickly and
mined is unusual, and like none e iciently, while those from Southern Africa
other in the world. Having formed (especially the high-ash, dry organic-matter
products currently being mined) are di icult
Sin very di erent conditions to
those in northern countries, © Russell Roberts @ Financial Mail to ignite, combust at higher temperatures

it needs to be understood and handled and take longer to burn out than those in the

accordingly – a fact that most engineers northern coalfields. Thus when engineers

don’t understand. This fact relates to the from northern countries design mills and

need to design boiler plant and associated boilers etc., they generally design them for

equipment appropriately to suit the coal bright shiny fast-burning coals typical of the

to be used, in order to ensure e icient Northern Hemisphere. When such boilers are

operation and minimum greenhouse gas brought to South Africa for use on Southern

(GHG) emissions. This is not always the case African coals, they are o en incorrectly

in this country, with overseas designs. configured, they operate ine iciently and

For the record, coals are di erent they can cause damage as well as produce

around the world. The coals in the northern higher emissions though ine iciency.

countries – United States, United Kingdom, Professor Emeritus So leading on from all this – how do
European Union and China – are formed in Rosemary Falcon coal-fired plants in Southern Africa operate
hot steamy equatorial water-logged swamps e iciently and cleanly, thereby reducing their
with little if any minerals or ash associated University of the GHG emissions? There are a number of key
with them. The coals in Southern Africa aspects that could be introduced to amend
Witwatersrand

(and India, South America and Western in the coal-forming peats. The types of this situation, and that is where South Africa

Australia) were formed at the end of an ice vegetation leading to the ultimate organic should be heading. This is all the more urgent

age in cold to cool climates, and in mostly material in coal also di ered significantly with the carbon tax in place (although there

dry conditions, with short summers, long between the Northern and Southern is a three-year gentle lead-in phase) and

snow-covered winters and lots of melting Hemispheres. Northern Hemisphere coals because of South Africa’s Paris Agreement to

“waters in spring times. These melting contain bright shiny volatile-rich organic reduce emissions (and CO2 in particular).
matter whereas the Southern African coals There are five options for South Africa to
waters brought abundant silt, sand and are composed predominantly of dull,
rock debris which poured into the peats low-volatile carbon-dense oxidised organic reduce greenhouse gas emissions:
and became embedded in the organic plant material with rare bands of bright shiny coal.  
material accumulating there, leading to ■ Option 1 – Capture and store CO2 in deep
levels of high ash content at varying times This means that coals from the Northern
“ geological strata.

■ Option 2 – Match product to process to
reduce CO2.
It is not the use of coal that is the problem, but ■ Option 3 – Increase boiler plant e iciency The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect SA Mining’s editorial policy.
how coal is used that must be the focus for action.
■ to reduce CO2.
– World Coal Association Option 4 – Capture GHGs in-bed; co-fire to

■ reduce CO2.
Option 5 – Utilise emissions to produce

high-value products.

© ISTOCK – svedoliver

60 SA MINING JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2020

“

Valuable carbon “
nanotubes can be
made from natural
flue gas emanating
from an Eskom power

station.

– Wits Clean Coal

group

But time will tell whether people and © ISTOCK – CreativeNature_nl
coal-fired companies will consider one or
more of those aspects.   Coals are di erent © ISTOCK – AeroFoto_hu
around the world.
It is relevant to note that China, India,
other Far East countries, and some Mid-East in this process. The production of carbon in terms of its income generation.
countries, along with Botswana, Zambia, nanotubes is of major commercial interest
Mozambique, Tanzania and Egypt, are globally. ■ Coal is crucial to SA’s industrial
all following the circulating fluidised bed
combustion route for coal-fired power Such research and developments development in terms of its mining and
generation. This type of boiler plant is indicate that coal-fired emissions are of manufacturing role.
well known for its in-bed capture of SOx, considerable commercial value and should
its significantly reduced NOx (almost be considered as a major benefit of clean ■ Coal is irreplaceable as a source of carbon
eliminated) and its high e iciency with coal developments in future.
significantly reduced CO2. In addition it Not only is coal important for power for its multiple products including high-
tolerates wide variations in quality of coal generation, but: value commodities.
feedstock (including very high ash coals) and
it can also burn (alone or co-fired with coal) ■ Coal is vital to the economy of the country ■ Coal can be used cleanly in terms of its
biomass and municipal waste of various
types. This is the process this country should emissions reduction, emissions elimination
have been following or should be going into and emissions utilisation in the production
for the future. of valuable commodities. ■

With regard to CO2 emissions and what to
do about them, storage underground is not
an option in SA at this stage and may never
be – this country is hard-rock country and
any potential storage rocks are o -shore or a
long distance to the modest coastal deposits
either in Zululand (Lake St Lucia) or East
London.

Reducing emissions through highly
e icient boiler operations is important
and can contribute huge reductions in CO2
emissions. But more importantly, emissions
can be used for a variety of purposes, i.e. to
produce electricity and valuable commercial
products from the GHGs including CO2
thereby leaving clean air to the atmosphere
at the back end of the boilers. This is the real
area of endeavour now.

The use of power station emissions is
becoming a much greater interest. Work
conducted in the Wits Clean Coal group
has established that valuable carbon
nanotubes can be made from natural flue gas
emanating from an Eskom power station. In
fact, real nanotube products have already
been obtained from natural flue gas from
an Eskom power station. Fly ash in the flue
gas was found to act as the catalyst in the
conversion of CO2 to nanotubes. There was
no need to capture and concentrate CO2

SA MINING JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2020 61