Somkhele Coal Mine

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Somkhele Coal Mine is a proposed coal mine in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Mine Name	Location	Coordinates (WGS 84)
Somkhele Coal Mine	Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa	-28.31081091, 32.0661844 (exact)

The map below shows the exact location of the coal mine:

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Expansion/Extension

Table 2: Project status

* Added capacity of a coal mine refers to the enhancement in the mine's production capabilities beyond its initial production capacity.

Status	Status Detail	Project Type	Project Phase	Added Capacity (Mtpa)*	Start Year
Proposed	Construction	Expansion	Stage 2	–	–
Proposed	Announced	Expansion	Stage 3	–	–

Note: The above section was automatically generated and is based on data from the Global Coal Mine Tracker May 2025 release.

Ownership Tree

This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.

Background

According to Petmin, operations at Somkhele will take place in three phases: phase 1 includes current mining operations, which are almost depleted; phase 2 includes expansion into the Emalahleni and Ophondweni mining areas; and the third and final phase will include a proposed expansion into the Amajonjoni coal field.

Approximately 50% of Somkhele’s anthracite production is exported via Richards Bay to iron ore pelletising and sintering markets primarily in Brazil. The rest of the mine's anthracite production is sold to the South African ferro-alloy industry.

In 2015, Petmin announced an agreement for a R350m BBBEE transaction giving the local community and employees a 20% stake in Somkhele.

Expansion

As of 2022, Tendele Mining is embroiled in a legal battle with environmentalists and community members in the surrounding villages of Ophondweni and Emalahleni over plans to expand by 21.8 million hectares (54 million acres). In May 2022, the Pretoria High Court sent Tendele Mining’s application for an extended mining right and environmental management program for its KwaZulu-Natal-based Somkhele mine back to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) for reconsideration.

Tendele seeks to extend the life of the mine for another ten years. (After mining in the Emalahleni and Ophondweni areas for up to 4 years, it will then seek to mine in the Mahujini area for another 6 years.) If the company cannot expand the operation, the Somkhele mine is due to reach the end of its life by July 2022.

Opposition

According to Aljazeera News, the expansion would displace roughly 200 families, many of whom earn a living by subsistence farming.

Mine Details

• Operator: Tendele Coal Mining Pty Ltd
• Owner: Petmin Pty Ltd
• Location: 85km north of Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
• Coordinates: -28.31081091, 32.0661844 (Exact)
• Status: Operating
• Capacity: 1.2 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa)
• Total Reserves:
• Mineable Reserves:
• Coal Type: Anthrocite (Metallurgical)
• Mine Type: Surface
• Start Year: 2006
• Source of Financing:

Project Expansion Details

• Status: Proposed
• Capacity:
• Mineable Reserves:
• Start Year:
• Source of Financing:

Articles and Resources

Additional data

To access additional data, including an interactive map of world coal mines, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Mine Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.