COO's Message | Edition 012
Canyon Coal COO Clifford Hallatt
In this edition we pay homage to the young, bold, and brilliant minds that form part of the Canyon Coal team. Our company invests in education and skills development programmes to empower the youth, as this forms a crucial part of building a sustainable future. We hope to see the young people who join our company become captains of industry. We might be in the business of exploration and extracting minerals, but this somehow coincides with discovering new talent that can be nurtured to lead this industry for generations to come.
This is not to forget the invaluable contribution of experienced members of the Canyon team. To usher in 2023 we relied on seasoned professionals within the company to help us start new ventures like the Gugulethu Colliery. We are proud to see operations unfolding well on that front with the team managing to drive our plans into tangible results. A highlight for Canyon is when Gugulethu Colliery and Thuso Colliery were announced at the South Africa Investment Conference, reaffirming our commitment to support economic growth and job creation.
Phalanndwa Colliery has achieved more than 3500 fatality free days, a record that upholds our commitment to realize Zero Harm across all mining operations. The mine set an impressive example for the implementation of 5G technology for mines within the African continent. The intervention has helped to improve safety and efficiency while providing an example for us to follow when implementing similar measures at our other sites. During the month of May we mined 142 271 tons (ROM) at Phalanndwa and 152 286 tons was processed through the plant. Operations at the Khanye Colliery continue to be stable. We have confidence in our team’s ability to achieve the 2.4 million ton target this year, given how well they have been able to bounce back after heavy rains interrupted production. The impact of Transnet logistics bottlenecks has been felt by all in our industry, with a drop in coal exports. It is however encouraging to see how the difficulties have illuminated the resilient nature of our sector.
Maintaining the connection with local communities continues to be an important part of the Canyon journey. Through the efforts of a dedicated team, we have been able to identify, plan and execute Social and Labour Plan initiatives that benefit host communities. The community of Argent, which is situated near Phalanndwa extension finally got access to clean water through an initiative to erect water tanks in the area. We have also invested over R3,7 million to develop a place of safety for young boys who are impacted by societal challenges. This initiative will serve the Middelburg community.
The team at Gugulethu has also started to forge a bond with the local community and paid a visit to the Umfundlana Combined School which is the closest school to the mine to deliver stationery and meals for the learners. We commend the environmental division for playing its part to make sure that we continue to comply with legislation. Putting measures in place to protect the environment is important to the company’s sustainability goals. In the second half of the year, we hope to maintain stability and increase output across all operations. The company’s focus will remain on providing growth opportunities for local communities, our suppliers, and the economy.
