Coal Mining & Distribution

Coal was first discovered in South Africa in the Western and Eastern Cape but it was in the Stormberg region stretching from Molteno to Dordrecht and the Indwe area that it was first exploited for commercial purposes. This coal had a high ash content and was found in thin seams which were difficult to mine. Used as a railway fuel, it was found to be unsuitable for the locomotives of the time. When coal was found in present-day Kwa-Zulu Natal and Mpumalanga, the railways switched to this new source and Eastern Cape coal production was reduced to certain minor domestic use. 

During the mid-2000’s, the coal deposits were re-evaluated and in the light of new technological advances in mining techniques it has been proposed to resume mining operations on a significant scale. A proposal has been made to supply up to two-million tons of coal to a new power station near East London and to supply a further half-million tons for industrial and smelter use in Coega and East London. 

Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) have been approached to re-open the 91 km Sterkstroom – Indwe section of the now closed Maclear branch. If TFR are not interested in this proposal, the Province could promote its opening in the manner in which the Mthatha branch has been re-opened.        

Coal is currently railed and brought by road to the Eastern Cape. Two important coal distribution depots are situated at East London and Port Elizabeth, of which the Swartkops Power Station in Port Elizabeth is one depot that receives coal by rail as well as road. The Swartkops power station which is no longer utilized as a power station, is used as a depot and receives monthly approximately 5000 tons of coal by rail and 400 tons by road respectively. This is in turn distributed to the whole of the Eastern Cape. The coal is distributed in the form of tippers. This coal is primarily used for brick making and industrial use. 

The farms "Schelm Hoek" and "The Downs", near Port Elizabeth, have recently been prospected with respect to their limestone resources. Limestone is a critical feedstock material in the production of cement. Fossil calcretised beach horizons are the target horizons here. Prospecting and evaluation is in progress. Limestone has been mined from the farms Coegas Kop 316 and Limebank 173. Further development is likely. Limestone is present in the Gamtoos Group of the Gamtoos valley, and in the East-London area. There are large reserves in the Alexandra area, but these are currently too far away from markets to be viable. “Specialised' limestone exists as travertine in the Port St. Johns area. This may have an application in the manufacture of ornaments, tiles, etc.