Coal of Africa (CoAL) said it may resume production at its Vele colliery in South Africa in the fourth quarter of 2010 after making progress towards rectifying environmental issues. CoAL, listed in London and Sydney, said in August it had halted some construction activities at Vele after a government order, which said the company contravened environmental laws. Several environmental groups had appealed to South Africa’s mining ministry against granting a new mining right for the Vele Colliery due to concerns that it might increase pollution at Mapungubwe, a World Heritage Site located near the Kruger National Park, the country’s premier national wildlife park. The company said it had made some progress in rectifying the issues, which led to the halting of some operations, including the fulfilment of technical requirements raised by the Department of Environmental Affairs and the Department of Water Affairs. A Department of Environmental Affairs spokesman said he couldn’t immediately comment.
See http://www.mineweb.co.za/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page504?oid=110623&sn=Detail&pid=33.