The impact of empowerment

摘要

South Africa's coal mining industry is coming to terms with empowerment legislation enacted to help new entrants to the industry. However, little is being done in practise to change current perceptions, in a climate that is not friendly to new investors. Dwindling reserves of export qualify coal, as well as the need for beneficiation, are problems that need to be faced. Major exporters do not seem as concerned as they might be However, coal processing engineers feel that it will be a challenge to produce export-coal . that meets stricter qualify specifications. In his keynote address to the INDABA, Martin van Zyl, advisor to the Minister of Minerals and Energy Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, stated that: "since 1994, the year of the -advent of democracy in Sooth Africa, the mining industry" Has undergone fundamental-changes." In 1994 the number of coal mines had declined-" from" 62 to 57. Consolidation in the industry had led to 93 percent of the country's saleable production being supplied by mines that were controlled by six large groups: Ingwe (Billiton), Anglo Coal, Sasol, Eyesizwe (an empowerment miner), Kumba Resources (with- a strong empowerment element) and Xstrata. Nevertheless, saleable coal production increased to 239 million tpa from 196 million tpa, making South Africa the fifth largest producer in the world in 2003. Exports increased to 71.5 million tpa from 54.8 million tpa. South Africa now accounts for 22 percent of global seaborne trade of thermal coal. Export earnings from coal totalled Rand: 13.5 billion in 2003 and coal became the third largest export earner for South Africa.