The history of coal mining in South Africa is closely linked with the economic development of the country. Commercial coal mining commenced in the eastern Cape near Molteno in 1864.  The discovery of diamonds in the late 1870s led to expansion of the mines in order to meet the growing demand for coal. Commercial coal mining in KwaZulu-Natal and on the Witwatersrand commenced in the late 1880s following the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand in 1886.  In 1879 coal mining commenced in the Vereeniging area and in 1895 in the Witbank area to supply both the Kimberly mines and those on the Witwatersrand.  South Africa began a period of major economic development after World War II.  New goldfields were discovered and developed in the Welkom, Klerksdorp and Evander areas; a local steel industry was established with mills being built at Pretoria, Newcastle and Vanderbijlpark; an oil-from-coal industry was established, initially at Sasolburg and later at Secunda; mining of iron, manganese, chromium, vanadium, platinum and various other commodities commenced and expanded; and power stations were erected on the coalfields to supply energy to these developing industries and to the growing urban population in the country. In addition to meeting local needs, coal mining companies began to develop an export market, making South Africa a major international supplier of coal.

Few people today give much thought to the role that explosives play in their lives each day and how they are linked to our standard of living and our very way of life.  Explosives provide the means to free up the vast resources of the earth for the advancement of civilization.

Few people know that 42 different minerals are used to make a telephone and 35 are used to make a color television. Even everyday products such as talcum powder, toothpaste, cosmetics and medicines contain minerals, all of which must be mined using explosives.

In fact it is difficult to think of any product that is not extracted from or improved upon through the use of explosives.  The roadways we travel on and tunnels we travel through are built by first breaking rock using explosives.  The cars we travel in contain steel, copper, aluminum, and zinc — all raw materials extracted from the ground using explosives.  Our computers are built using gold, silver, copper and silica.  Our power sources — coal, fuel, natural gas pipelines, hydroelectric dams — are extracted or built using the power of explosives.

As a fuel source, anthracite has many distinct advantages over its better-known alternatives (gas, oil, electricity, wood, wood pellets, and propane).  The cost of anthracite can be significantly lower than alternative heat methods mentioned above.  After switching to anthracite, many users report saving up to 50% on their heating bills.  Anthracite is a clean-burning and smokeless fuel source.

Anthracite’s low sulphur and high carbon content makes it a clean-burning fuel. It produces virtually no smoke or polluting emissions, a major problem with wood burning stoves.  Even small quantities of ash left over from burning anthracite can be used. The ash is excellent for aerating soil and as a binding agent for the manufacture of building materials.

For supplemental heating via a coal stove or fireplace insert, anthracite is easier to use than wood, unlike a wood stove which needs to be refilled often, a modern anthracite stove heats evenly without tending often.

Another bonus with anthracite is that there is very little ash to be disposed of with no creosote build-up in the chimney. Unlike wood-burning fireplaces or stoves, annual maintenance is minimal.