- Seriti Resources has commissioned its new Naudesbank Colliery.
The Naudesbank Colliery is strategically located in Carolina, within the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality in the Mpumalanga Province – a region rich in coal resources – and is poised to make a significant contribution to the country’s coal sector and the local economy.
As a long-life, export orientated mining project, Naudesbank Colliery is set to generate around 300 direct jobs, with additional indirect and downstream employment opportunities in the surrounding communities, contributing to the region’s economic development and social upliftment. The company has actively engaged with local communities throughout the project’s development phase and will continue to prioritise community partnerships and initiatives to ensure meaningful shared value.
Seriti has invested over R500 million in the development of the Naudesbank Colliery, including infrastructure projects that will not only support mining activities but also deliver benefits to local communities. The mine is expected to contribute significantly to South Africa’s mining sector and play a key role in the country’s economic growth.
Mike Teke, Group Chief Executive Officer of Seriti Resources said: “The opening of Naudesbank Colliery is a milestone for Seriti, Mpumalanga and the country at large. Coal remains a vital component of South Africa’s energy mix and export economy, and this project strengthens our ability to supply high-quality coal while at the same time creating jobs and contributing to the local economy. Our investment in Naudesbank bears testament to our firm belief in the future of responsible mining and its role in driving economic progress and shared value.”
Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Mr Qwede Mantashe spoke at the official opening of Naudesbank Colliery:
” The study on the state of mining in South Africa further confirms that the South African mining industry is not a sunset industry, but an industry that is diversifying from the gold era to an industry with a diverse range of mineral resources including, but not limited to, coal, PGMs, manganese, chrome, and rare earth minerals.
The study shows that coal will continue to play an important role as it makes up the largest share of baseload energy generated in developing and developed nations such as South Africa, China, India, and Japan. Despite the fact that South Africa has proven reserves of coal that are equivalent to 173 times its annual consumption, the study further shows that at the current production rate, the operational collieries in South Africa should have more than 50 years of coal supply left.
In 2023 alone, the coal mining sector increased its production from 230 million tonnes in 2022 to 232 million tonnes and thereby positioned South Africa in the top 10 of coal-producing nations and the fifth largest coal exporter in the world.
By investing in the coal mining, and opening this mine, Seriti, you are practically demonstrating that king coal is back, and that coal will continue to play a significant role not only in energy generation, but in cement production, steel making, and the production of synthetic petroleum based fuels,” said Mantashe.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
