| About Coaltech Research Association |
The Coaltech Research Association
was established in 1999 as the Coaltech 2020 Research Programme.
It is a collaborative initiative to develop technology and apply
research findings that will enable the South African coal industry
to remain competitive, sustainable and safe well into the 21st
century.The Coaltech Research Association is an Association incorporated under Section 21of the Companies Act, 1973. The Coaltech Shareholders are : Anglo Coal, Xstrata Coal, Eskom, Exxaro Coal, Sasol Mining, BHP Billiton Energy Coal South Africa, Total Coal, CSIR and the Chamber of Mines. Bon Terra Mining, Kuyasa Mining, Kangra Mining, Leeuw Mining, University of the Witwatersrand, University of Pretoria, National Research Foundation, National Union of Mineworkers and the Department of Minerals and Energy are partners in the Coaltech work programme.
The initial focus of the research was on extending
the useful life of coal mining in the Witbank/Highveld coalfields
while sustaining job opportunities and utilising the available
infrastructure to the year 2020 and beyond.
Although some of this research is still continuing, the rapid
depletion of the reserves in the Witbank/Highveld coalfields,
has necessitated the shifting of the research focus to the Waterberg
coalfield. 
During the past eight years, more that 100 research
projects have been completed or are still ongoing The major successes
to date, to name but a few are:
Categorisation, quantification and location of the remaining
resources in the Witbank/Highveld coalfields. This project not
only identified the remaining resources in situ and in the pillars,
but it also alerted the various mining
houses to the economic possibilities of extracting or combining
resources with adjacent companies.
The beneficiation of fine and ultra-fine coal. The pilot Dense
Medium plant that was designed by the Coaltech Coal Processing
Steering Committee was tested on four collieries and proved beyond
doubt that it more efficient than spirals for many of the Mpumalanga
coals. It has been proven that the fine coals can be upgraded
to 28 MJ/kg. As a result of the tests at Leewpan, Exxaro is replacing
their spirals with a Dense Medium plant.
The binderless briquetting of fine coal. As a result of the high
vitrinite in the coal at Tshikondeni and Grootegeluk, very strong
and water resistant briquettes can be produced. Strong binderless
briquettes can also be made from the Witbank coals, but they
are not water resistant. When they are exposed to water, they
disintegrate. This is due to the fact that the clays in the coal
is the binding material. The froth floatation concentrates of
the Witbank coals, however, produces a strong and water resistant
briquette.
testing and evaluation of the various water treatment processes,
resulted in Anglo building a full-scale biological treatment
plant, and also led to the joint venture between Anglo and BHP
Billiton in building the Emalahleni water treatment plant near
Witbank.
Factors which make this programme unique:
* Truly collaborative between mineral and energy industries,
labour, the state, universities and other research organisations.
* It is "industry needs" driven.
* The development of post graduate students.
* The formal involvement and partnership with universities.
* Funding by the Industry, the State and the CSIR.
© CoalTech 2010 -
