KRIEL, Mpumalanga (miningweekly.com) – Diversified pure assets firm Exxaro Assets has formally opened the new Mine 1 operation at its Matla coal mine, in Mpumalanga, following a strategic growth to assist steady mining operations and meet the necessities of its coal provide settlement (CSA) with State-owned Eskom.
As a part of the growth, the brand new Mine 1 operation has been efficiently prolonged to make sure sustained operational effectivity.
Mine 1 varieties a part of the broader Matla life-of-mine challenge (MLOMP), a long-term, R5.2-billion megaproject designed to supply secure and continued entry to the remaining coal reserves, enhance effectivity and guarantee constant supply in keeping with the lately prolonged CSA with Eskom.
As a cost-plus operation, Exxaro explains, Eskom is contractually liable for funding the mine’s prices to make sure the bottom potential general gasoline value.
The brand new Mine 1, which is essential to the dependable operation of Matla energy station, will produce about 4.2-million tonnes a 12 months of coal.
As beforehand reported by Mining Weekly, Exxaro and Eskom, on April 1 signed a long-term CSA for the provision of coal from Exxaro’s Matla mine to Eskom’s Matla energy station till November 2043.
“The brand new Mine 1 is way over an operational milestone – for us it displays Exxaro’s disciplined execution, long-term imaginative and prescient and dedication to South Africa’s future. Our Matla mine continues to play an important function in supporting the nation’s vitality wants whereas creating significant impression by way of native funding, job creation, and the event of entrepreneurship.
“Most significantly, this milestone displays the dedication and resilience of our staff, whose dedication to the corporate continues to allow us to ship complicated initiatives on time, to scope and on funds whereas making a significant contribution to the nation and its communities,” Exxaro CEO Ben Magara mentioned on Might 15.
Key developments of the growth challenge consists of the development of a boxcut to entry the outdated Mine 1 working space; set up of a tunnel growth silo feed conveyor system; the event of an overland conveyor feeding into the brand new crushing and dealing with plant linked to the Eskom’s conveyor system; development of a brand new assist complicated; and the implementation of a shortwall substitute challenge, together with the introduction of recent mining tools.
Minerals and Petroleum Assets Minister Gwede Mantashe was in attendance on the mine opening, on May15, and visited employees underground.
Eskom group CE Dan Marokane mentioned the dependable provide from Matla ensures that, because the grid is decongested to allow fast renewables penetration, Eskom maintains operational consistency and safety of vitality provide wanted to assist South Africa’s developmental and industrial wants.
He defined that Eskom additionally negotiated the brand new contract construction as a part of Eskom’s Price Optimisation and Income Enhancement programme, which is geared toward driving efficiencies in major vitality procurement.
Eskom additionally signed a memorandum of understanding with Exxaro in 2025 to collaborate on emissions discount, carbon seize and different initiatives to drive a accountable simply vitality transition.
“This milestone comes as Eskom marks 365 consecutive days with out loadshedding – a testomony to the impression of sustained funding, operational self-discipline, and partnership with Exxaro,” mentioned Marokane.
