Optimum Coal is a black-owned and controlled South African mining group and is one of South Africa’s largest coal mining companies with an extensive operational footprint located in the Witbank coalfield region of Mpumalanga.

Optimum Coal is a ‘pure-coal play’ operating in a coal based economy with exposure to the export market. The company has operations strategically located with good access to rail infrastructure, rapid load-out and export facilities. The company also has high quality and extensive coal reserves and resources with a strong development pipeline.

Optimum Coal is the sixth largest producer of thermal coal in southern Africa and is a key supplier of coal to Eskom for energy generation. Optimum Coal is also South Africa’s fourth largest coal exporter with a significant shareholding of the Richards Bay Coal Terminal.

The company has with a strong balance sheet and a solid growth platform. For the end of June 2009 Optimum Coal generated revenues of R3.965 billion and EBITDA of R1.440 billion.

Optimum Coal has established long-term supply contracts with low credit-risk counterparties. The company is committed to supplying the domestic power generation market whilst intending to maximise its exposure to export markets.

The company has strong broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) credentials and has ambitions to be a benchmark for transformation in the South African mining industry. We have a highly experienced executive and operational management teams with proven project delivery and cost-effective mine management track record and a stable workforce.

The Optimum Coal History