Coal mining in South Africa plays a significant role in the country’s economy as it is responsible for nearly three quarters of Eskom’s fuel supply. The industry is also responsible for supplying the coal-to-liquids (CTL) industry, developed by the South African fuel company, SASOL, who produces around 35% of the country’s liquid fuel.
It is centered on the Highveld, with roughly 60% of the country’s deposits located in eMalahleni (Witbank) and surrounding areas. The largest coal deposits in South Africa are to be found in the Ecca Group. The Ecca Group covers around two thirds of South Africa and contains more than a third of all coal reserves in the Southern Hemisphere. Some coal fields in South Africa are Waterberg, Highveld, Witbank, Ermelo, Utrecht and Klip River Coal fields.
South Africa makes extensive use of coal for electricity generation in its domestic economy as well as exporting approximately 28% of its coal production, mainly through the Richards Bay Coal Terminal, making South Africa the fourth-largest coal exporting country in the world. By international standards, South Africa's coal deposits are relatively shallow with thick seams, which make them easier and usually cheaper to mine. There has been a decline in high-quality reserves in recent years resulting in an increased political and industrial push for the application of technical advances to extend the life of major coal deposits.
There are 2 processes in how coal is mined, namely: surface mining and underground mining. Surface Mining: This process is most commonly used. This is a broad category of mining such as strip mining, open pit mining and mountaintop removal mining. Nearly all surface mining is strip mining, which is mining by first stripping away the overburden. Strip mining involves methods of mining the coal and re – claiming the land. It depends on huge earthmoving machines.