The Project Area is located on the western extent of the Witbank Coalfield, located within the Ecca Group of the Karoo Supergroup.

The Pre-Karoo geology underlying the Witbank Coalfield comprises of the Transvaal Supergroup lithologies and Rooiberg Group felsite. Within the Project Area, dolomite of the Malmani Subgroup (Transvaal Supergroup) was intersected below the Karoo Supergroup sequence. The Malmani Subgroup carbonate sequence developed under a tidal range of paleo-environments ranging from supra-tidal through intertidal to sub-tidal which results in a variety in chert content, intercalated shales and erosional surfaces (Johnson et al, 2006).

The coal containing Vryheid Formation was deposited directly on the uneven pre-Karoo and Dwyka Group lithologies resulting in variations in thickness of the deposit and pinching out of the formation against paleo-highs. The Dwyka Group sedimentary rocks were deposited in glacial environments and comprise predominantly of tillite. The Vryheid Formation was deposited during deltaic to fluvial events with general upward coarsening cycles comprising of shales, siltstones and sandstones. Northern sequences of the Vryheid Formation contain very coarse-grained sandstone deposited by fluvial events. Coal swamps formed in sheltered environments created by the pre-Karoo topography and glacial deposits (Johnson et al, 2006).

The Karoo Supergroup contains extensive dolerite intrusions, which represent the shallow feeder system for the flood basalt eruptions and occur as interconnected networks of dykes and sills (Duncan and Marsh, 2006). These intrusions are important geological structures for diverting and impeding groundwater flow. Sediments in contact with the intrusions become altered by contact metamorphism and are significant for their water bearing properties.

Ubuntu is currently an open-cast, truck and shovel operation. The mine plan indicates a 100ktpm saleable product available to Eskom.

The activities originally approved for the Ubuntu Colliery did not include any processing infrastructure on site but to transfer the coal to Kangala Colliery for further processing (including crushing, screening and washing). This has subsequently proven to not be a feasible approach and crushing and screening is now taking place in the approved pit area with a mobile crushing and screening plant.