When Molatelo Marutha reflects on his two decades in South Africa’s coal heartland, he speaks with the authority of someone who has lived through the industry’s highs and lows. “Coal has always played an important role in my life. It created opportunities for many of us here in Mpumalanga. But it also presented problems that we tried to ignore, but couldn’t,” he says.
Marutha, a board member at 2 Seam Colliery—a mine that will supply coal to SUISO once the project begins operations—has seen firsthand the economic dependency that binds Mpumalanga to coal. With a BProc degree from the University of the North and experience as a mineral laws administration officer in eMalahleni’s Department of Minerals and Energy office, he understands the sector’s deep roots in the region’s economy.
For him, the story of coal is inseparable from the province itself. Mpumalanga’s prosperity has long hinged on mining and energy production, industries that have powered both local livelihoods and national development. But as global momentum toward decarbonisation grows, communities that once thrived on coal now face an uncertain future.
“The mines are closing,” Marutha says. “Towns built around the coal mines need a new future. Mining jobs are dwindling and people are eager for alternative employment opportunities. SUISO is showing that it’s possible to protect jobs, sustain local economies and still move towards lower-carbon production.”
The SUISO project in Kriel, Mpumalanga, represents one of South Africa’s most ambitious green industrial investments. Valued at R31.5 billion ($1.8 billion), the coal-to-fertiliser and low-carbon methanol initiative is reshaping how the country approaches both energy and employment. When it becomes operational in 2029, SUISO will produce 1.5 million tonnes of agricultural fertiliser annually, replacing about 1.2 million tonnes of imported urea. The project will not only boost national food security but also position South Africa as a regional leader in agricultural input manufacturing.
Aligned with the principles of the just energy transition, SUISO is designed to ensure that the province’s coal-based workforce is not left behind. The development will create 4 000 construction jobs and 981 permanent operational positions, offering new opportunities for mining-dependent communities.
Mpumalanga’s economy has long been shaped by industries with heavy environmental footprints, including mining, metallurgy and coal-fired power generation. Poor air quality and water contamination have posed ongoing challenges for residents and regulators alike. SUISO aims to help reverse this trend by introducing technologies that repurpose captured carbon into gypsum and ammonium carbonate—by-products used in construction and agriculture.
“Coal cannot disappear. But it must evolve,” Marutha says. “By adopting technologies that reduce the carbon footprint, we may continue to generate value while taking responsibility for the environment.”
Beyond direct employment, SUISO is investing in long-term skills development through the on-site Gerhard Potgieter Engineering Training College, which will train more than 400 workers in advanced engineering, process operations and environmental management. “This is how we build a sustainable economy,” Marutha says. “You create opportunities, but you also create knowledge. That knowledge stays in the community and feeds future industries.”
By integrating local suppliers, training initiatives and sustainability measures, SUISO aligns with the objectives of South Africa’s National Development Plan and Just Transition Framework. Its ability to secure a domestic supply of fertiliser will also reduce exposure to volatile global markets, which have in recent years disrupted pricing and availability for local farmers.
“Stable, locally produced agricultural inputs strengthen food security and protect our economy from external shocks,” Marutha notes. “The just transition must be as fair as it is green. This means keeping people in work while we change how we work. SUISO is proof that it can be done.”
For the communities of Kriel and eMalahleni, SUISO represents both continuity and change—a bridge from the past to a more sustainable future. “This project arrives at a critical juncture,” says Marutha. “It ensures that jobs are not lost but transformed. It shows that we can move towards sustainability without sacrificing the well-being of the people. Human development must not come at the expense of the environment. Environmental progress must not come at the expense of people. SUISO is proving that both can move forward together.”
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
