Regulations governing the application for and awarding of prospecting rights and mining rights for underground coal gasification (UCG) in South Africa have been included in the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) Amendment Bill, accelerating the near-term likelihood that the clean coal technology will be introduced into the national energy mix.

UCG enabled coal to be gasified within a coal seam, converting coal in situ into synthetic gas and enabling the access of “unmineable” coal seams.

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Mr Mpendulo Kumalo, High Commissioner of South Africa said that South Africa is ready to assist Pakistan in exploiting its coal reserves for power generation and technology of developing gas from coal.

Mr Kumalo said that South Africa has the expertise and modern technology to extract coal and it can help Pakistan in using its huge coal reserves for overcoming the ongoing energy crisis.

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Anglo American was the first company to transform waste water from its coal mines into something 80 000 people drink. Now it is seen as a model.

Purifying contaminated water from three sites in South Africa has proved so successful that Anglo’s plant in Witbank is doubling in size and being replicated elsewhere in the country by BHP Billiton and Glencore Xstrata.

Mines often treat waste water to some extent. But until the Emalahleni water reclamation plant, none of the water was of drinking quality.

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If South Africa is to make the best use of its valuable carbon-based fuel resources, the coal sector faces a number of challenges.  Globally, the demand for coal remains strong – even more so in the developing world.  Africa needs another 7,000MW more electricity annually to keep up with its growth rate.

To serve this need, coal exploration in African countries has been ongoing.  However, turning SA’s coal to account is become increasingly difficult.  Much of the country’s easily accessible deposits are depleting.  Resources are now often more geologically complex and expensive to mine.

Adding to this, SA’s water resources are also under strain.  If new are brought on stream, it will be vital that they find innovative ways to meet their water needs.  It is said that the price of water could double in the next five years, as a reflection of its real cost to society.