dlk001
29-01-2008, 10:22 AM
Two of State-owned Eskom's coal suppliers said on Monday that they were supplying the fuel according to their contractual obligations with the power utility, while another, world number-one diversified-miner BHP Billiton, was "doing everything it could" to ensure coal supply.
A spokesperson for the biggest single coal supplier to Eskom, Exxaro Resources, said that its deliveries had been in line with its contracts, despite production having been impacted by rain. The diversified miner had build up coal stock piles at its mines, and the moisture content of its fuel supply was according to its agreements with Eskom, Trevor Arran said in a telephone interview.
Coal giant Anglo Coal was on Monday producing at full capacity at all of its mines, except for its export-grade Kleinkopje colliery near Witbank, and was fulfilling its Eskom supply contract, a spokesperson for its parent company said.
This was after production at its export coal mines had been curtailed on Friday, after the power supply situation in South Africa led to a massive shutdown across the country's mining industry.
Meanwhile, BHP Billiton said that it was managing the rain situation.
"While our coal operations are seeing significant rainfall, at this point, we are managing the situation effectively with pumps and have not experienced flooding in the mines," London-based spokesperson Illtud Harri said in reply to emailed questions. "Some of the usual difficulties associated with wet weather are being experienced, but the impacts on production are manageable."
"BHP Billiton's coal mines are also doing everything they can to ensure coal supply to Eskom," he affirmed.
Anglo American spokesperson Pranill Ramchander said in a telephone interview that AngloCoal had been supplying the correct volumes and quality of coal to Eskom, according to its contract with the State-owned utility.
This came after Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin took a swipe at Eskom's fuel suppliers, threatening to evoke "emergency measures" to deal with "serious problems with coal quality and stocks".
The struggling power utility was being forced to buy increasing amounts of coal on short-term contracts as it ran it power stations at increased levels.
Ramchander said that Anglo Coal was "in discussions" to this end, but would not disclose further details.
He said that rain had not affected the company's coal supply to Eskom.
Arran said that Exxaro supplied coal to Eskom according to structured contracts, which took into account volumes, calorific values, as well as sulphur, ash, and moisture contents. Exxaro was meeting all these specifications, he affirmed.
Arran said that wet coal was more difficult to transport on conveyor belts, and also rendered boilers less efficient.
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A spokesperson for the biggest single coal supplier to Eskom, Exxaro Resources, said that its deliveries had been in line with its contracts, despite production having been impacted by rain. The diversified miner had build up coal stock piles at its mines, and the moisture content of its fuel supply was according to its agreements with Eskom, Trevor Arran said in a telephone interview.
Coal giant Anglo Coal was on Monday producing at full capacity at all of its mines, except for its export-grade Kleinkopje colliery near Witbank, and was fulfilling its Eskom supply contract, a spokesperson for its parent company said.
This was after production at its export coal mines had been curtailed on Friday, after the power supply situation in South Africa led to a massive shutdown across the country's mining industry.
Meanwhile, BHP Billiton said that it was managing the rain situation.
"While our coal operations are seeing significant rainfall, at this point, we are managing the situation effectively with pumps and have not experienced flooding in the mines," London-based spokesperson Illtud Harri said in reply to emailed questions. "Some of the usual difficulties associated with wet weather are being experienced, but the impacts on production are manageable."
"BHP Billiton's coal mines are also doing everything they can to ensure coal supply to Eskom," he affirmed.
Anglo American spokesperson Pranill Ramchander said in a telephone interview that AngloCoal had been supplying the correct volumes and quality of coal to Eskom, according to its contract with the State-owned utility.
This came after Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin took a swipe at Eskom's fuel suppliers, threatening to evoke "emergency measures" to deal with "serious problems with coal quality and stocks".
The struggling power utility was being forced to buy increasing amounts of coal on short-term contracts as it ran it power stations at increased levels.
Ramchander said that Anglo Coal was "in discussions" to this end, but would not disclose further details.
He said that rain had not affected the company's coal supply to Eskom.
Arran said that Exxaro supplied coal to Eskom according to structured contracts, which took into account volumes, calorific values, as well as sulphur, ash, and moisture contents. Exxaro was meeting all these specifications, he affirmed.
Arran said that wet coal was more difficult to transport on conveyor belts, and also rendered boilers less efficient.
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