MiningWeekly.com Audio Articles

Market development organisation the World Gold Council’s (WGC’s) latest ‘Gold Demand Trends’ report shows that yearly demand, excluding over-the-counter markets, has recovered many of the Covid-19-induced losses from 2020 to reach 4 021 t for the 2021 full-year.

Demand for gold reached 1 147 t in the fourth quarter of 2021 – its highest quarterly level since the second quarter of 2019. It is also an increase of almost 50% year-on-year.

Gold bar and coin demand rose by 31% to an eight-year high of 1 180 t as retail investors sought a safe haven against the backdrop of rising inflation and ongoing economic uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the WGC says.

Meanwhile, the council’s data series reported outflows of 173 t from gold-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in 2021, as some more tactical investors reduced hedges early in the year amid Covid-19 vaccine rollouts, while rising interest rates made holding gold more expensive.

However, these outflows represent only a fraction of the 2 200 t that gold ETFs have accumulated over the preceding five years, demonstrating the continuing importance investors place on including gold in their portfolio, posits the WGC.

In terms of yearly consumer demand, the jewellery sector rebounded to match 2019’s pre-pandemic total of 2 124 t.

This was aided by a strong fourth quarter when demand reached its highest level since the second quarter of 2013.

For the twelfth consecutive year, central banks were net buyers of gold, adding 463 t to their holdings, which was 82% higher than in 2020.

A diverse group of central banks from both emerging and developed markets added to their gold reserves, lifting the global total to a near 30-year high, highlights the council.

The use of gold in the technology sector in 2021 increased by 9% to reach a three-year high of 330 t.

While technology demand is comparatively smaller than other sectors, its uses are far-reaching and prevalent in a variety of electronics, the WGC points out.

Gold is expected to face similar dynamics to those seen last year in 2022, with competing forces supporting and curtailing its performance.

In the near term, the gold price will likely react to real rates, which in turn will respond to the speed at which global central banks tighten monetary policy and their effectiveness in controlling inflation, the WGC says.

“Historically, these market dynamics have created headwinds for gold. However, the elevated inflation seen at the start of this year and the possibility of market pullbacks will likely sustain demand for gold as a hedge.

In addition, gold may continue to find support from consumer and central bank demand, the WGC notes.

Speaking to Mining Weekly, World Gold Council Research Team analyst Krishan Gopaul says that 2021 witnessed a specific set of factors at play, and these are factors which the organisation expects to continue influencing gold this year.

"Gold will always be influenced by a broad range of factors given its broad demand base," he explains.

Gopaul expands that the sources of gold demand are diverse (consumer, investment, technology, central banks), therefore, it is understandable that several factors will often influence how those different sources behave.

"This is what we described as the self-balancing nature of the gold market, reflecting gold’s dual nature. Some sources are consumer-oriented (pro-cyclical) which respond well to economic expansion and income growth. Other sources of demand, such investment, to respond well during periods of uncertainty and heightened risk," he indicates.

South Africa needs more power generation to overcome the supply gap and underpin economic growth, and investments by private companies, including mining houses, are essential to close that gap.

Renewable energy projects provide good economic prospects, help to decarbonise the mining sector and ensure its resilience and global competitiveness, while supporting the transformation of mining-dependent communities and supply chains.

Speaking during a 'Decarbonisation & Going Green in the Mining Sector' webinar hosted by Creamer Media on January 28, industry organisation Minerals Council South Africa environment, health and legacies senior executive Nikisi Lesufi said the council supports the decarbonisation of the mining industry and the South African economy, and recognises the need to move away from its reliance on coal-fired power generation.

He stressed, however, that a pragmatic approach was needed, with security of energy supply being maintained and with any reduction in coal-fired power generation being matched by a commensurate upswing in renewable energy generation.

The country desperately needs new generation capacity to be added to the grid, precious metals producer Sibanye-Stillwater energy and decarbonisation manager and industry association Energy Intensive Users Group chairperson Jevon Martin said.

"The private sector can step in to help close the gap, and this solves several problems. Individual companies can reduce their costs and decarbonise, and their projects are not necessarily displacing Eskom sales because there is a significant deficit and projects that add new capacity will help to reduce it.

"Private projects can also become an enabler by helping to attract international investment for energy projects . . . and help to decarbonise the economy to ensure it remains globally competitive."

Further, private generation projects can also offset the need for Eskom to use expensive open-cycle gas turbines, which produce electricity at a higher cost than the set electricity tariffs, he added.

"Technologies that can be rapidly deployed to close this gap include wind and solar energy and energy storage. While South Africa needs a national-level plan around the appropriate mix of technologies to ensure grid stability, the current energy crisis means that more generation solves a number of problems, and is why [local] companies are [already] pursuing wind, solar and storage projects,” said Martin.

Coal and heavy minerals producer Exxaro Resources climate change and sustainability strategist Abel Sakhau pointed out that the company is not developing its own renewables projects to generate profits, but rather to help overcome the country’s energy deficit.

"We believe we can do solutions cheaper than government can, especially distributed generation solutions, and an important aspect is that, without decarbonisation of the South African grid, all industries will be negatively impacted.

"Therefore, it is important to create an enabling environment . . . by reducing red tape and regulations and drastically speeding up power generation licensing processes, to ensure we protect our products and our ability to compete in international markets," he said.

Exxaro's energy subsidiary Cennergi is one of the ways in which the company has diversified its portfolio and reduced the risks posed by a move away from coal globally, although the company aims to continue to support South Africa's energy supply security from its coal operations.

However, critical for the company is that it be allowed, from a regulatory perspective, to operate and move at speed to deliver energy solutions, said Sakhau.

Lesufi agreed, highlighting regulatory delays and the long time it takes for approval and licensing processes. Some approval processes can take up to 360 days, and there is no sense of urgency from the regulatory authorities and government departments, he said.

Further, regulators do not use risk-based processes, which means even low-risk proj...

Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer discusses South Africa’s hydrogen roadmap targeting societal well-being; South Africa offsetting losses from the eventual decline in coal export by using hydrogen direct reduced iron technology; and the Richards Bay Coal Terminal's lowest volume of coal exports since 1996.

Major mining companies AngloGold Ashanti, Sibanye-Stillwater, Exxaro Resources, Gold Fields, Impala Platinum, Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), Kumba Iron Ore, Harmony Gold and Newmont have all been included in software and media company Bloomberg’s 2022 Gender Equality Index (GEI).

The companies are among 418 companies from across 45 countries included in this year’s index. Companies included in the unranked GEI operate in a variety of industries. Only nine South African companies made the cut.

The companies were included in this year’s index for scoring at or above a global threshold – determined by Bloomberg – for reflecting high levels of disclosure and overall performance across the GEI’s five pillars.

To be included, each company had to submit a social survey created by Bloomberg, in collaboration with subject matter experts globally.

These five pillars are defined as – a female leadership and talent pipeline; equal pay and gender pay parity; an inclusive culture; anti-sexual harassment policies; and pro-women branding.

“We continue to support a future where gender inequality ceases to exist. Our commitment is endorsed by our target of ensuring that 30% of our workforce are female by 2025 with a simultaneous focus on increasing the representation and development of women at all levels and in all functions,” Sibanye CEO Neal Froneman said in a statement on January 27.

“We foster gender diversity and inclusivity and treat all our employees fairly without any bias or prejudice of any kind. This is embedded in our values,” stated Harmony CEO Peter Steenkamp in a separate statement.

Gold Fields noted in its own statement that gender and diversity are “critical operational priorities” for the company.

“While we recognise that work still remains to be done, we are proud of what has been achieved to date,” Gold Fields CEO Chris Griffith said, adding that the company was targeting 30% gender diversity among its workforce by 2030.

The GEI score is comprised of two components – the amount of data disclosed and data excellence. Data excellence assesses a company’s performance against the key pillars of the GEI framework, in comparison with its industry peer group.

According to the GEI report, the Europe, Middle East and Africa region has the highest average global score of 73%. This region also showed the highest average data excellence score of 63%.

“We have made great strides in improving the representation of women across all levels . . . but we know that we face numerous challenges – including accelerating our commitment to combat gender-based violence,” Amplats CEO Natascha Viljoen said.

She stated that the aim of the Bloomberg GEI was to improve the transparency of gender-related practices and policies at publicly listed companies. This is done in an effort to increase the breadth of environmental, social and governance data made available to investors.

The comprehensive and transparent GEI scoring methodology allows investors to assess companies’ performance and compare across industry peer groups.

Both the survey and the GEI are voluntary and it costs nothing for companies to be included.

“Even though the threshold for inclusion in the GEI has risen, the member list continues to grow. This is a testament that more companies are working to improve upon their gender-related metrics, fostering more opportunity for diverse talent to succeed in their organisations,” concluded Bloomberg chairperson and feminist activism campaign US 30% Club founding chairperson Peter Grauer.

A speeded-up solar, wind and storage (SWS) approach is needed to advance South Africa’s decarbonised energy situation and take the country into a cleaner, greener future.

Also, steps need to be taken to allow the delayed Tubatse pumped storage scheme to go ahead as an independent power producer (IPP) project.

Those are the views of retired civil engineering construction cost consultant David Easton, who spoke to Engineering News & Mining Weekly in a Zoom interview. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.)

Easton criticised the slow phasing in of renewable energy projects through the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) and, in particular, decried the long delay between Window 4 and Window 5.

He sees SWS as having “magnificent investment” potential.

“There are huge firms itching to come here. So where’s the problem? We’ve got the sites, we’ve got the engineers, we’ve got the roads to get there.

“So, we’ve got to look at it from what’s holding it back. Grid is a problem. We’ve got to connect it all up. There’s a lot of wires to take them from the Northern Cape, or from Limpopo, down to the centres of the consumers, especially the industrial consumers,” he said.

But otherwise he is upbeat.

Interestingly, in an Engineering News article dated 12 September, 2014, Easton had this to say on the delayed Tubatse pumped storage scheme: “A pumped-storage scheme at present is the only practicable and economically viable way to store electrical energy in large quantities.”

He concluded the article with these words: “Some of the considerable number of actions that have to be taken start with the process to invite competitive bids, as was done for the REIPPPP.

"The 64 solar and wind projects under construction at present have given the whole South African engineering, banking and legal professions a huge exposure to new forms of getting difficult power generation projects successfully negotiated and completed. The way forward is to complete the Tubatse pumped storage scheme as an IPP.”

Mining Weekly put these questions to Easton:

Do you think that South Africans who want to go exclusively for SWS – solar, wind and storage – are going in the right direction? And when it comes to storage, do you think pumped storage schemes could play a role provided there is sufficient renewable energy to power these water batteries?

Easton: Yes, if we look at a timescale, for instance, in 50 years’ time. I take 50 years because all of the coal-fired power stations would have gone by that time. The intermediate situation is that South Africa depends on coal for 80% of its power and that’s a fossil fuel. It is causing problems with its emissions, so immediately we have to have a plan. Not that we can change that situation overnight. We have solar, we have sufficient sun, but insufficient grid. For instance, if we try to generate a lot of solar in the Northern Cape, we’ve got to get that back with a grid capable and quickly - on that I suggest we need an additional grid for these forms of renewable energy. Now, wind is also in different parts of South Africa. There’s a map of the wind availability and again if we choose what we were trying to work on the lowest cost, cost comes into all three of these [including] going to the third one of storage, which is to take us through the hours when the other two are not working. We may have independent power producers providing solar, not much wind, but batteries, yes. This is the way we have to go.

Mining Weekly: I’ve been listening to global webinars over and over and one that really stuck with me involved Mark Carney, the United Nations special envoy on climate change action and funding, who spoke of $130-trillion being committed but what is absent are available green energy projects. Do you get the impression that the funds are there if the projects are appropriate?

Easton: Yes, I do. Yes, I do.

Mining Weekly: Also, South Africa’s just transition proposals at COP26 were hai...

Diversified miners Glencore and Managem have entered into a partnership to produce cobalt from recycled cobalt, nickel and lithium at Managem’s Compagnie de Tifnout Tiranimine (CTT) hydrometallurgical refinery in Morocco.

Glencore and CTT intend to enter into a five-year tolling agreement for 1 200 t/y of recycled cobalt, as well as nickel hydroxide and lithium carbonate.

The partnership forms part of Glencore and Managem’s commitments to support the electric vehicle industry in achieving its metals recycling targets.

The partnership is conditional on a feasibility study to assess the commercial viability of modifying and deploying the CTT refinery for recovering cobalt, nickel and lithium from black mass – a refinery feed comprised of recycled lithium-ion batteries.

The feasibility study will focus on achieving high recoveries and a low carbon footprint. It is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter.

Glencore will leverage its long-established ability in sourcing and recycling cobalt and nickel-bearing products at its Canadian (Sudbury) and Norwegian (Nikkelverk) operations to supply cobalt-containing black mass to the CTT refinery.

Managem will provide the lithium-ion batteries recycling technology developed and tested in the pilot plant at the Reminex research and development centre. This technology enables a high recovery rate of cobalt, nickel and lithium from black mass.

Managem chairperson and CEO Imad Toumi says demand for cobalt is expected to increase significantly in the next decade, largely driven by the green energy transition.

“Most actors in the supply chain seek to ensure sustainably sourced materials and we strongly believe recycling will play a crucial role in addressing this demand.

“Managem is fully engaged in supporting the global circular economy through cobalt, nickel and lithium at the same time as mining cobalt with the highest corporate social responsibility standards.

“This partnership with Glencore represents an exciting step up in our development in this field,” he says.

“As the world seeks to address the challenge of climate change, primary/recycled cobalt and other future-facing commodities are set to play a pivotal role in decarbonising energy consumption and delivering the electric vehicle revolution,” says Glencore head cobalt trader David Brocas.

Meanwhile, the CTT hydrometallurgical plant will benefit from at least 90% wind-generated power.

Glencore will market the recycled products to its global network of portable electronics and automotive customers, as part of its continued commitment to support the transition to a low carbon economy, and to realise its own ambition of net-zero total emissions by 2050.

In terms of high-level outcomes, the vision of South Africa’s Hydrogen Society Roadmap is the creation of an inclusive, sustainable and competitive hydrogen economy to support net-zero carbon economic growth and societal well-being, Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) chief director hydrogen and energy Dr Rebecca Maserumule said on Monday.

Speaking at the North West Provincial Mining and Energy Investment Conference on Wednesday, Maserumule spoke of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy doing work on the ‘just energy transition’ and contributing to the Hydrogen Society Roadmap, which the DSI is leading. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.)

Maserumule told the conference, covered by Mining Weekly, that lots of conversations were taking place around the hydrogen economy and how South Africans can benefit from it.

The purpose of Wednesday’s discussion, she said, was to look at what is taking place in the hydrogen economy, and its ability to create jobs, impact youth and benefit North West, which is responsible for 45% of global platinum group metals (PGMs) that play key roles in hydrogen’s generation and use.

She highlighted how South Africa not only had one of the world’s best solar resources, and prime wind resources boosted by a three-sided ocean coastline, but was also endowed with 75% of the world’s PGMs that are so closely linked to going green.

What is more, policies were being developed by South Africa to ensure that this happens.

“Our journey started more than 15 years ago when the Cabinet at that point in time decided to pursue the hydrogen economy. This tells you that policy is a very important thing. It leads and guides us in the right direction,” Maserumule told the conference.

She recalled how 15 years ago, South Africa’s leadership initiated a programme of action to generate PGMs-linked wealth for South Africans.

“The national hydrogen strategy was to develop the necessary skills for a hydrogen economy in South Africa, which has been successfully achieved,” she affirmed.

Subsequently, the Department of Transport had developed the green transport strategy that opens the way for hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles to play a decarbonising role.

More recently, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) had come to the party with its green commercialisation strategy, and the DMRE with its ‘just energy transition’ and contribution to the DSI-championed hydrogen society roadmap.

Maserumule highlighted the roadmap’s societal well-being as equating to jobs, industrial development and, more importantly, cross-country economic growth that would not be centred in areas like Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, but also in Limpopo and Northern Cape, with the North West leading the charge in the movement towards a hydrogen economy.

Engagements have taken place with close to 50 organisations, beginning with State-owned enterprises such as Eskom, Transnet and the Central Energy Fund, and extending to government departments such as the DMRE, Defence, Transport, Public Works; numerous private sector companies, including Anglo American, Sasol, Engie, Mitochondria, and the women-led Bambili Energy; and civil society organisations taking in the National Youth Development Agency and other youth industry associations.

“The youth are going to be front and centre of this transition,” she emphasised. “And I would say we had a roundtable, so no one’s view was more important than others – and that was really important because in most cases you find that certain voices are muted in the discussions, and that out of that, as a country, these are our priorities.

“The first priority is decarbonising transport, with a focus on roads, in part because road is responsible for 98% of emissions. So, we didn’t look at rail or shipping, but we focused on road, and the Department of Transport will lead that transition, and that process, supported by other departments,” Maserumule said.

The second outcome is t...

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), together with the provincial government of North West, are increasing efforts to garner investment into and effect transformation in the province’s mining sector.

Speaking during a North West Mining and Energy Investment conference on January 25, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said government is aiming to create a North West, Limpopo and Northern Cape corridor of mining.

An initial Limpopo Mining Investment Conference was held in September last year.

The Minister noted that these provinces hold potential for a massive mining region, comparable to the workings of Western Australia, which is the “head office” for mining in Australia.

Mantashe pointed out that the Bushveld Complex, located in North West and Limpopo, is abundant in mineral resources of the future, including rare earths, nickel, zinc, chrome, vanadium and platinum group metals, which will increasingly be in demand as the world strives for lower carbon emissions.

He stressed the importance of encouraging investment into smaller companies that have acquired mothballed operations owing to low grades and that are able to extract these otherwise unviable resources.

“It must be part of the strategy of the mining sector to hand over remaining resources and infrastructure to smaller companies, to avoid sterilising resources and to encourage small business development.”

He added that to effect more sustainable transformation and economic growth in communities, mining companies in an area must pool resources and implement bigger projects for the economic prosperity of previously disadvantaged individuals, instead of donating single community halls or sports fields, as part of social and labour plans.

“In turn, these individuals and empowered companies must appreciate that wealth is not a gift from Father Christmas, but an opportunity to participate in building economic prosperity through challenges and growing pains.

“No one is entitled to any business, but everyone has a right to economic activity,” Mantashe said.

During his address at the conference, North West Premier Kaobitsa Bushy Maape echoed the Minister’s sentiment, stating that social and labour plans must be comprehensively and constructively implemented – with mining companies and investors not treating it as a box-ticking exercise.

He issued a clarion call for a “new patriotism” saying we can not be passive in the presence of suffering.

“The socioeconomic problems of poverty, unemployment, hunger and inequality are not going away, instead they are intensifying. We have to join hands as government, labour, business and civil society to form a real formidable front and create a better future for all.”

From government’s side, Maape mentioned that the province had launched an Accelerated Service Delivery programme to ensure basic services are provided not just to communities but also to industry.

“We are working with the relevant national departments, entities and municipalities to ensure that we provide much-needed services. We have also set up a task team alongside the North West Chamber of Commerce and Industry to identify problems and devise solutions related to service delivery in the province, including water provision.”

He noted that, coming out of the elections last year, newly elected mayors are settling into their responsibilities and the province is meeting with them regularly to discuss service delivery prerogatives.

While Maape pointed out the need for more beneficiation in the province, especially from existing mining companies, Mantashe admitted that, with the high price of electricity in South Africa, it often costs producers more to make products than they earn from exporting those products.

Mantashe said that, as the country continues to mobilise investment, government remains mindful of the mitigating mindset encouraged by the risks associated with energy poverty, climate change realities and the high electricity tariff...

Premium grade copper producer Big Tree Copper plans to list on the JSE and/or the Cape Town Stock Exchange (CTSE) in the first half of 2022 as it marches towards full production.

The company’s business centres on recycling previously dumped mining waste through above-ground processing at the decommissioned Okiep copper mine, now the site plant in Nababeep, in the Northern Cape.

A natural by-product of the operation is the rehabilitation of the area.

As reported by Mining Weekly on May 28, 2021, Big Tree Copper initially planned to list on ZARX in October last year but was forced to reconsider after the Financial Sector Conduct Authority suspended the ZARX exchange licence over liquidity and capital adequacy concerns in August.

The original listing date last year was also delayed because Big Tree decided to prioritise ensuring production capability.

Big Tree CEO Jan Nelson told Mining Weekly at a media briefing in Johannesburg, on January 25 that the company was now considering listing on either the JSE, or the CTSE or both, although a final decision had not been made yet.

He explained that the listing would be geared towards raising enough capital to further expand operations.

Nelson noted that listing offshore would be expensive and would divert funds out of the country, which he believed was counterproductive. Therefore, Big Tree would not list on foreign exchanges such as Aim unless it added significant value.

For the time being, the company plans to only list on a local stock exchange.

Once listed, the company would offer its employees and the local community about 15% shares in the business “without any strings attached”, Nelson said. He insisted that this decision was not made out of legal compulsion but rather a desire to “leave a legacy”.

“Irrespective of what the law tells us, we will do what’s right,” he said.

Big Tree is a mine dump retreatment business – not a mine – which means it is not subject to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act and, therefore, is not obligated to engage with communities like a mining company would.

Rather the company is subject to the Occupational Health and Safety Act like any other business.

The company has employed more than 90 people from the local Nababeep community over the past six months. Nelson said more locals would be employed as operations expanded.

“If we look after our community, they will look after our business,” Nelson said.

OPERATIONS

Big Tree started building a processing plant in September 2019 and produced its first copper plate in October 2020 as a proof of concept for investors.

After securing further funding, the processing plant was upgraded to include a solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX-EW) technology and a filter press. It is the only SX-EW plant in South Africa that has been purpose-built for copper production.

The upgrading of the plant started in November 2020 and was completed in June 2021.

From July to December 2021, the plant was successfully commissioned.

The copper plates produced are about 99.899% pure copper and are sold under an offtake agreement to trader Noble Metals at the mine gate.

Nelson said production was ramping up to reach a target of about 87 t a month of copper over the next three months. This increase will be funded from working capital.

Over the following two years, $4-million will be raised to fund further expansions to the plant, to increase output to about 333 t a month of copper.

Nelson noted that further plans were in place to raise an additional $5-million to reach 474 t a month of copper about 18 months after that.

The processing plant will be fed by rock dumps within about 500 m for the next five years. Loading and hauling is done by a fleet of three excavators, four dump trucks and two front-end tippers. All machines are owned, operated and maintained on site.

Big Tree also owns the Carolusberg copper tailings dam which contains another estimated 2 880 t of recoverable copper at an expected recovery rate ...

The Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) last year exported its lowest volume of coal since 1996.

In exporting 58.72-million tons of coal, RBCT was 11-million tons down on what it achieved in 2020 and 18-million tons down on its 77-million-ton budget for the 2021 year.

The target for the upcoming 2022 is 70-million tons.

Of the 11-million tons that it was down on last year’s budget, 1.8-million tons can be ascribed to two overall value-chain shuts totalling 19 days compared with the normal year’s ten days.

In other words, RBCT was 9-million tons down on operational matters impacting the value chain.

“It’s not one of those easy announcements to make for RBCT and Transnet in this year. Just to put it on the table – 2021 has been a very difficult year,” said RBCT chairperson Nosipho Damasane during Tuesday’s media briefing covered by Mining Weekly.

“We experienced a number of challenges and the biggest challenge we experienced as a value chain is the ability to get the coal from the mines to RBCT.

“Cable theft has been a significant matter in terms of what the coal line has been dealt with, and we’ve seen that on a daily, weekly basis throughout the course of last year. Loco availability has been a challenge,” said RBCT CEO Alan Waller. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.)

“We have been working on a continuous basis from a terminal point of view as well as from an industry point of view, in partnership with Transnet Freight Rail (TFR), to understand how we can work together to understand what these challenges are and how we can contribute where required to assist in trying to improve the overall efficiencies. We have worked together on security issues and that process kicked off in October last year,” said Waller.

“We have definitely seen some gains and the true gains we’ve only started seeing now in January. The result where we find ourselves at this stage is that it’s really what the industry has brought to the party as additional resources.

“We have partnered with existing service providers that TFR use and at this stage industry and existing service providers, and the increased capacity that has been put on the line, are looking at the night shift on the security of the 750 km of the coal line. This doesn’t go all the way through to the Waterberg. It just goes to the Mpumalanga area, and we’re covering that in terms of the six-to-six shift at night, and then Transnet have doubled up on their security service providers on the day shift.

“We definitely, in January, are seeing some significant improvements in this regard, but it is a continuous battle and there are initiatives that are ongoing, still within the security area, to look at how we improve the issue. But it is a battle that we are winning at this stage,” said Waller.

Damasane emphasised the importance of the partnership that RBCT has had with TFR and Transnet National Ports Authority since 2012, which is resulting in joint initiatives resulting in claw back and recovery as a corridor.

Located in KwaZulu-Natal, RBCT, which loaded only 645 vessels in 2021 compared with 907 in 2017, is owned by a consortium of shareholding coal companies. The terminal received coal from 65 collieries, with ten active junior miners contributing 3.5-million tons. Four-million tons of RBCT’s 91-million ton capacity is allocated to junior miners in terms of a programme guided by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.

Vessel turnaround time moved out from 34 hours to 39 hours, partially influenced by vessel sizes. The increased number of Cape-sized vessels in 2021 assists with the efficiency of the terminal and is favoured, but they take slightly longer to load. Cape-sized vessels have risen to half from 39%.

RBCT has 98 stockpiles of coal at the terminal and with the low stock levels it was having to clear up to 25 stockpiles a month, whereas the 77-million-ton rate normally involves clearing about 15 stockpiles a month.

“Although the terminal per se is not affected by all th...