February 2014
MODERN MINING
21
COAL
running
overburden and an average of 210 000 t of coal
each month over the initial life of mine. The
mining operation has been designed as a typi-
cal roll-over operation. The mining is still in
the boxcut phase but will move north and south
in a figure-of-eight configuration.
Stefanutti Stocks is mining a four-seam
package – the export coal mid-seam (which
is actually the top seam); the BA/BB seams,
which constitute a composite seam with a
width of 2,5 m; and the bottom BC1 and BC2
seams, with an overall thickness of between 8
and 9 m. All the seams occur within 55 m of
surface. The bulk of the reserve is contained
within the BC1 and BC2 seams.
Universal’s CEO, Tony Weber, is well pleased
with the progress at Kangala. “When we listed
in 2010, our mantra was three mines in three
years,” he says. “We’ve not met that over-opti-
mistic projection but our first mine is up and
running and the other two are waiting in the
wings. We’ve really performed well at Kangala
and the mine, when fully complete, will have
been delivered on time and well within budget.
We’re expecting the life of mine operating cost
to be A$15/tonne with payback being achieved
in four years.”
The initial life of mine at Kangala – which is
Above:
The first coal was
fed to the plant on 24
January this year (photo:
Universal Coal).
Top left:
The crushing and
screening circuit at Kangala
has been successfully com-
missioned (photo: Universal
Coal).
Left:
Pictured on site are
Kangala’s GM, Piet van Zyl
(left), and Universal Coal
CEO Tony Weber.
owned 70,5 per cent by Universal – is 9,5 years
based on the 21,5 Mt reserve on the first prop-
erty, Wolvenfontein, to be developed. There
are two other properties, however, within the
project, Middelbult and Modderfontein, and
the total JORC-compliant resource over the
three properties is 146,5 Mt. “Clearly there
is the potential to develop similar-sized pits
to the existing one on both Middelbult and
Modderfontein and we envisage that we could
eventually be mining here at Kangala for at
least 20 years,” says Weber.
Universal’s team responsible for develop-
ing the project is led by Kevin Donaldson, the
company’s Chief Development Engineer, who
started his career with the then Rand Mines
in operations where he reached the level of
mine overseer, subsequently moving on to
Anglo American where he was involved in
the planning and technical side of mining and
project development. Kangala’s GM is also in
place. He is Piet van Zyl, highly experienced
in coal mining with his previous career being
with Coal of Africa, Shanduka and Anglo Coal.
