Coal was first mined in 1857 and South Africa has become the 6th largest coal producer in the world. Oil began to be produced from coal in 1950’s to reduce South Africa’s dependence on imported oil. South Africa now has the 2nd largest refining capacity in Africa. Multinational companies, including BP, Shell, Caltex, Engen and Total are factors in South Africa’s petroleum markets. Refineries are also processing vast quantities of natural gas pumped in from nearby Mozambique.

For more information about Coal Mining in South Africa, visit the following links:

South Africa’s coal industry is the second biggest mining sector after gold, with sales contributing 20% to South Africa’s mineral sales and 4% to the GDP. More than half of these earnings are attributed to export earnings. South Africa is the world’s second largest coal exporter, after Australia, as well as second lowest cost producer, after Indonesia. Approximately 64 Mt of coal was exported in 2001 out of a total production of 225 Mt.

Twistdraai is a room-and-pillar operation. A fleet of Joy shuttle cars and seven Long Airdox continuous Hauler’s transport the coal from the primary production machines to Buffalo in-section sizers.

A comprehensive list of all the coal mines in South Africa with links to information about them.

A short bit of information about the employment statistics of South African workers in the countries coal mines.

In the past Kumba was the mining division of Iscor, the South African steel-maker. As such, the analysts perceived mining as ancillary to the now fallen on hard times steel-making. Low-cost operations as well as volume in bulk products helped motivate this shift.
In tandem with re-engineering, Kumba launched a R1 billion overhaul of its mobile equipment. Another R500 million was spent on upgrading the product-handling facilities and process-control infrastructure at Sishen, Kumba’s main iron ore mine and one of the largest open-pit mines in South Africa.