Mbuyelo’s third mining operation has recently kicked off with a bang, under the company’s subsidiary Misty Sea Trading 262 (Pty) Ltd.

The Elandspruit Colliery is situated on Route 555 in Middelburg, and is made up of portions 67, 68 and 69 of the farm Elandspruit 291 JS. There was no holding back during an interview with Mbuyelo Mining Contractor’s director, Mr Xolile Mdolo as he relayed the pride the company was experiencing from this asset. “This is where our first earth-moving machinery went. We started the operation, capitalized it and are now physically mining it ourselves!” shared the eager Mdolo.

Talking technical, this reserve is estimated at a pleasing 2, 3 million tons and is relatively low in phosphorus. It has an estimated 26% ash content and a calorific value of on average 22.8 ROM (run of mine). An agreement with a local wash plant is in place which could have the coal washed to about 25, 5 CV with a 16 volt measure. The operation is mined by Mbuyelo Mining Contractors (Pty) Ltd and managed under the Zidromarc (Pty) Ltd umbrella. “This asset has very low strip ratios and is therefore a very profitable asset!” says Mdolo. The first box cut made (-which was 50x100m) had a 1, 6 strip ratio, making the entire reserve an estimated 2, 3 strip ratio. “This brings down the cost to mine the asset quite satisfactorily!” highlighted Mdolo.

The life of this mine is estimated at anything between 24-36 months depending on the tons mined per month, of which the ideal is standing at a hundred thousand (100 000) tons. Two more operations of a much larger scale are ear marked for the first and second quarter of 2012. These operations are said to take the company to 600 000 tons per month!

Mbuyelo management is beaming from ear to ear at the company’s growth, which is evident in their accomplishments thus far. As it hits coal effortlessly in Elandspruit, the company soldiers on to meet their desired goals!