MC Mining’s Makhado steelmaking hard coking coal project in South Africa’s Limpopo Province transitioned from construction into hot commissioning and operational ramp up during the September quarter. Run of mine feed, coal washing and the production of both hard coking coal and thermal coal were demonstrated, while final commissioning, performance testing and plant optimisation continued, with the plant still in the ramp up phase at quarter end. The project is 67 percent owned by MC Mining and recorded one lost time injury in the quarter, while the Uitkomst Colliery recorded none.
Pit to port logistics were commissioned and tested. Two 80 tonne certified weighbridges were operational and 4,846 tonnes of hard coking coal were delivered to Matola Port during the quarter. Mining and coal extraction continued from the East Pit to support commissioning, and at September 30 the mine held about 99,777 tonnes on run of mine stockpiles and about 43,720 tonnes of product. The foundation phase is designed to produce approximately 800,000 tonnes per annum of hard coking coal at steady state.
The ownership and the opposition frame the ramp up. Hong Kong listed Kinetic Development Group became MC Mining’s controlling shareholder in April 2026, and the mine is expected to reach steady state operation by the end of the year. The open pit project lies within the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, and a legal challenge by a coalition of community members and environmental groups over the removal of a deadline condition from its environmental authorisation remains unresolved, alongside concerns about water security in a region where the town of Musina is already subject to water rationing. Makhado’s developers first received environmental authorisation in August 2013, so the ramp up closes a 13 year permitting and financing saga while the court file stays open.