Turning a challenge into an opportunity

Transitioning from coal in South Africa

The South African energy sector is heavily dependent on coal and 150 years of intensive coal mining have produced about a billion tonnes of discarded thermal-grade coal fines. These can potentially cause environmental and health problems.

Sappi Southern Africa turned this challenge into an opportunity by establishing a demonstration plant for manufacturing fuel rods at Ngodwana Mill. The rods, which comprise a mixture of waste coal slurry (from discarded thermal-grade coal fines), biomass and lignosulphonates, have been tested in one of the boilers at Tugela Mill. Positive results have been achieved and we have now established at a pilot plant at Tugela Mill.


Turning a challenge into an opportunity