Delmas, located in Mpumalanga, is home to several significant coal mining operations, both underground and opencast, that play a major role in South Africa’s energy and resource sectors[1].
Key mines in Delmas, Mpumalanga include:
- Delmas Colliery: An underground coal mine operated by Delmas Coal (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of Kuyasa Mining. This mine has been operational since 1964, with a production capacity of about 2 million tonnes per annum. Its primary product is bituminous thermal coal for the domestic market[1].
- Botleng Colliery: A newly established operation by Thando Tech in the Delmas area. The company is BEE-owned and operates in the coal mining sector, with future plans for diversification[2].
- Vanggatfontein Coal Mine: A surface and underground coal mine, owned by Salungano Group Ltd (formerly Wescoal Holdings), situated in Delmas. As of 2022, its operating capacity is 3 Mtpa with underground and surface mining, focusing on subbituminous thermal coal[5].
- Leeuwpan Coal Mine: Located in the Delmas coalfield, Leeuwpan is about 10 km southeast of Delmas. The mine exploits coal seams interbedded with sandstone and shale, and is known for geological complexity due to dolerite intrusions[4].
- Phalanndwa Colliery: Known as the Delmas coal mining capital, this open shaft coal mine operated by Canyon Coal started production in 2010. It is an important employer and contributor to the local economy[6].
- Ubuntu Colliery: An opencast mine situated near Eskom’s Kusile Power Station, this operation supplies coal directly to the power utility. It is run by Ndalamo Resources with a reported coal resource of over 75 Mt and current life of mine exceeding seven years[7].