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South Africa

Ubuntu Mine

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Summary

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StatusCare and Maintenance
Commodities
  • Coal (thermal)
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start... Lock
SnapshotAs of FY2025, Ubuntu remains on care and maintenance since February 2023, following the conclusion of the Eskom Coal Supply Agreement in December 2022. TerraCom's management continues to actively evaluate alternative domestic coal sales opportunities with the objective of returning the colliery to an operational state, while also pursuing potential divestment opportunities as part of the Group’s broader portfolio strategy.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
TerraCom Ltd. 48.9 % Indirect
Universal Coal and Energy Holdings South Africa (Pty) Ltd. (operator) 48.9 % Indirect
Ndalamo Resources (Pty) Ltd 51.1 % Indirect
Ndalamo Resources (Pty) Ltd holds 51.1% of Ubuntu, while TerraCom Ltd. indirectly holds the remaining 48.9%.

Although TerraCom Ltd owns less than 50% of UCDIII, management has determined that the Group controls the entity because UCEHSA manages and directly controls the entity by virtue of an operating and management agreement and has the ability to direct the entity's activities.

Deposit type

  • Sedimentary

Summary:

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.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Commodity Production

CommodityUnits2023202220212020
Coal (thermal) kt  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
All production numbers are expressed as clean coal.

Operational metrics

Metrics2023202220212020
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Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Mine Financials

Units20232022
Revenue M AUD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Gross profit M AUD  ....  Subscribe
Pre-tax Income M AUD  ....  Subscribe
After-tax Income M AUD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
EBITDA M AUD  ....  Subscribe

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Nov 20, 2025
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Nov 20, 2025

Workforce

EmployeesTotal WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2022
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2021
...... Subscription required 2020

Aerial view:

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