COO Message | Edition 017
Canyon Coal COO Jarmi Steyn
Our hope has not diminished, even as the coal sector faces considerable headwinds. Geopolitical challenges and volatile market conditions in the past year made it tough to operate. After careful deliberation, we decided to place Gugulethu Colliery in Davel under care and maintenance. We continue to follow a comprehensive maintenance plan, ensuring that the mine’s environment, infrastructure, and equipment are well preserved until we can resume operations again.
The challenges, however, did not discourage us from continuing with our obligation to local communities through various social programmes. Canyon Coal partnered with the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency to host procurement workshops. The workshops were aimed at fostering engagement with local suppliers around Gugulethu and sharing information about the company’s procurement processes.
Our Women in Mining Committee at Khanye Colliery in Bronkhorstspruit ran a successful women’s month campaign under the theme “An Act of Kindness and Sisterhood,” resulting in the delivery of clothing and essentials to the Mali Martin Polokegong Centre. We also welcomed honours and master’s students from the Tshwane University of Technology’s metallurgy department for a tour of Khanye’s coal processing plant facility.
Khanye operations performed well, exceeding its production target for three consecutive months, from June to August 2025. With a target set at 200,000 tons, the mine produced 190,020 tons in June, 205,870 tons in July, and 232,472 tons in August.
The results of investing in youth development and education became evident as Junior engineers Lebogang Mothoa and Nozipho Masina obtained their Government Certificate of Competency (GCC) certifications. Both Lebogang and Nozipho started their careers as interns with us and are qualified engineers. Mduduzi Magagula, one of Canyon Coal’s bursary recipients, graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Pretoria, signifying another proud moment in our mission to positively impact people’s lives.
As the global economy shifts, things have become increasingly unpredictable. But one thing we are certain of is that coal mining is still an important part of modern society. In 2022, the global coal market experienced a remarkable recovery after witnessing drastic declines in coal prices during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. These events marked a reminder of coal’s resilience. We remain hopeful for the next positive turnaround.
