Delmas Coal refers primarily to the operating underground coal mine known as Delmas Colliery, located in Delmas, Nkangala, Mpumalanga, South Africa[1]. The mine, owned and operated by Kuyasa Mining (Pty) Ltd since its purchase from BHP Billiton in 2002, has been in operation since 1964 and is a significant supplier to the domestic market[1][7].
The mine produces around 2 million tonnes of coal per annum, using the bord and pillar mining method, and benefits from a mechanised setup that allows for efficient production and processing[2]. Some of the coal is beneficiated to reach a calorific value of 24.0 MJ/kg before being supplied to customers[2]. All production is designated for the South African domestic market, with processes in place to tailor the grading and ash content to specific client needs via on-site beneficiation plants[2][6].
Delmas Colliery has an estimated total reserve of 56 million tonnes of bituminous thermal coal[1]. The facility features both a vertical shaft (South Shaft) and an inclined shaft, the latter primarily used for machine access and transporting coal via conveyor[6]. Outbound logistics involve both road and a dedicated rail siding for distribution[6].
In addition to ongoing mining, Kuyasa Mining has announced plans for a 600 MW coal-fired Independent Power Plant (IPP) through its subsidiary, KiPower (Pty) Ltd. The planned plant will feature four circulating fluidized bed (CFB) units designed to minimize environmental impact, and it will utilize limestone as a sorbent to reduce SOx and NOx emissions from the combustion process[2].
The surrounding area of Delmas has experienced significant economic and industrial growth over the decades, with coal mining, including Delmas Colliery, playing a substantial role in the local economy and infrastructure development[5].