Resource News

Sentula to open four coal mines in next 18 months

CAPE TOWN (miningweekly.com) – Junior miner Sentula Coal expected to have its four coal development assets operational within the next 18 months, Sentula Mining CE Xavier Wagner said on Thursday.

Addressing delegates at a coal conference in Cape Town, Wagner stated that the two most advanced projects – Bankfontein and Schoongezicht – would start production by the end of the year.

Both projects were being developed in conjunction with Merafe Coal.

Bankfontein is an eight-million-ton proven resource coal project, near Witbank. Schoongezicht is also an eight-million-ton proven resource coal project, located near Delmas.

It was anticipated that combined yearly sales from the Bankfontein and Schoongezicht projects would total 2,85-million tons at full production.

Sentula Coal was also developing the Mulungura coal project in Zambia.

Wagner stated that this was an 80-million-ton resource with a proven resource of five-million tons, which was being developed in joint venture with the local community.

The third phase of drilling had been completed and it was anticipated that the mine should be in production by the end of the year.

Wagner continued that the prefeasibility study had just been completed for its fourth development asset, the Mababa project near Polokwane, which was being undertaken in JV with the local community.

The company was currently investigating a resource extension for the project but production was expected to start within the next 18 months.

Wagner told Mining Weekly Online that all four projects were fully-funded, although he could not disclose the exact capital expenditure on each project…read more at the Mining Weekly