South Africa is one of the seven largest coal-producing and one of the top five coal-exporting countries in the world.
More than a quarter of coal mined in South Africa is exported, most of which leaves the country via Richards Bay. Coal is South Africa’s third largest source of foreign exchange; platinum being the largest and gold second. Around 15% of the country’s GDP (2000 estimate) is spent on energy and 77% of that is derived from coal.
In 2004, the coal and lignite mining industry generated a gross income of R39 billion and directly employed 50,000 people. The Witbank Coalfield accounts for 40% of South Africa’s coal production.