Respect

Optimum Coal values diversity and harnesses the value of quality relationships.

Accountability

Optimum Coal people are accountable for decisions taken and delivery of agreed undertakings.

Empowerment

Optimum Coal is an organisation built on trasparency and a true desire to harness the talent of its people without prejudice.

Purpose-driven

Optimum Coal is driven by achievement of clear business and people goals.

Integrity

Optimum Coal values loyalty and trust while honouring interests and undertakings made to others.

Simplicity

Optimum Coal embraces an approach of keeping business clean and simple.

Care

Optimum Coal places a high premium on the wellness and safety of its people and the communities it operates in.

Optimum Coal Profile

Optimum Coal is committed to transformation to greater gender and race equality in our industry. Optimum Coal manages its stable workforce without compromise to leadership. Optimum Coal sets a sterling example of real broad-based black economic empowerment.
Not only is Optimum Coal majority black owned, but is a highly successful South African coal mining company with operational control also being in black hands. We have a clear transformation strategy with specific efforts to integrate transformation as part of the way we do business. Optimum Coal recognizes the role of all its stakeholders on this journey and regular communication informs all our stakeholders (internal and external) of milestones achieved in our transformation efforts.
Formed in 2007, Optimum Coal is the sixth largest producer and the fourth largest exporter of low sulphur content thermal coal in South Africa. The company’s operations are located mainly in the Mpumalanga province and include Optimum Collieries and Koornfontein Mines in which it currently has an effective 96% interest.
The estimated life of the mines of Optimum Collieries is 22 years and Koornfontein 18 years respectively.
Optimum Coal’s export sales are made primarily into European and Asian markets pursuant to long-term supply agreements with BHP Billiton energy Coal South Africa (“BECSA”) and Mercuria Energy Group. Export sales are made through Richards Bay Coal Terminal (“RBCT”, in which Optimum Coal has control over 8.4 Mt of entitlement.
Optimum Coal supplies Eskom's Hendrina Power Station, which is an integral part of the South African coal fired electricity power grid..
In the year ended 30 June 2009 Optimum Coal generated:
- Revenues of R3.964.7 million, and
- EBITDA of R1.439.9 million.
Optimum Coal has strong pipeline of development projects at a number of stages of implementation. Additionally, exploration work continues on a number of ‘greenfield’ projects to improve resource confidence with a view to prioritising Optimum Coal’s growth and development pipeline.
Optimum Coal owns and operates a state-of-the-art water treatment plant that is due to be fully operational in 2010.
Optimum Coal has strong technical competence at all of its operations. The company’s management team has an average of 24 years of experience in the coal mining industry.