[miningmx.com] — KEATON Energy, in a production update released on Wednesday, reported across-the-board production increases from its South African operations in the financial year to end-March.
The Company’s Vanggatfontein Colliery in Mpumalanga province delivered 955,376t of washed 4- and 2-Seam thermal coal to power utility Eskom between June 2011 and the end of the reporting period, and continues ramp-up towards its targeted 175,000t per month.
Production of 5-Seam metallurgical coal for the domestic market from Vanggatfontein increased by 146% to 140,241 tonnes (t) from the previous year’s 56,886t.
Vaalkrantz Colliery in Kwazulu-Natal province, over which Keaton Energy gained effective control on 14 December 2011, dispatched 375,950 tonnes of anthracite to domestic and export customers in the 12-month period to 31 March 2012, a 76% increase over the previous year’s 213,503t.
Vaalkrantz’s exports of anthracite increased by 83% to 168,685t compared with 91,875t in the 12-month period to 31 March 2011, while supply to the domestic market rose by 70% to 207,298t compared with 121,627t.
“Now, with two operating collieries within the group, we have a great base from which to grow to reach our 5-million tonne per annum target,’ says Managing Director Paul Miller.
“Our priorities now are to develop the Braakfontein export thermal coal project, near Newcastle in Kwazulu-Natal and to take the Sterkfontein Project in Mpumalanga further up the value curve.’
