DISCOVERY OF COAL-DERIVED PRODUCT

Issued by: Ministry of Mineral and Energy Affairs

MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF MINERAL AND ENERGY AFFAIRS, MR R F (PIK) BOTHA

WELCOMING ADDRESS TO COALTRANS SOUTH AFRICA CONFERENCE: ANNOUNCEMENT OF IMPORTANT BREAKTHROUGH IN COAL-DERIVED "WONDERFUL PRODUCT" PLANT STIMULANT AND SOIL ENHANCER

The Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs Mr Pik Botha will be delivering the Welcoming Address to the Coaltrans South Africa Conference at 09h10 tomorrow, Wednesday 27 March 1996, at the Sandton Sun Hotel. Coaltrans is a major international coal conference being hosted by the Coaltrans Conference Organisation and the World Coal Institute. The timing is appropriate given the world-wide resurgence of demand for thermal coal and the buoyant outlook for South African exports.

Salient points which the Minister intends to make in his speech are:

• The amount of coal the world has used in the last 35 years, from 1960 to 1995, is equivalent to all the coal used during the six million years of humanity's existence; more people have been born since 1950 than during the whole preceding six million years; a greater world economic output has been achieved in the last ten years than in the six million years before;
• In 1960, the richest 20% of the world received 30 times more income than the poorest 20%. By 1990, the richest received 61 times more. We must do everything in our power to avoid this scenario in South Africa;
• South Africa derives 72% of its primary energy from coal;
• One of the most significant developments for coal is South Africa's ambitious and effective electrification drive. Over 90% of our electricity is generated by coal-fired power stations; any increase in electrification means an increase in coal consumption; the extension of electricity has an extraordinary effect on economic development; electricity is the most effective way to bring about creative social change; one of the best and quickest means of improving the quality of life;
• According to the National Electricity Regulator, 50% of South Africa's nine million households now have access to electricity, leaving the other 4,5 million households still without. Before the electrification programme started in 1990, only a third of South African households enjoyed electricity. An additional programme provides for the electrification of 2,5 million rural homes over the next two decades, and of 16 000 schools and 2 000 clinics, largely based on photovoltaic solar cells;
• Research, sponsored by the Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs, has led to an environmentally friendly coal-rejuvenated process, presently demonstrated in a pilot plant with a 2 500 kilogram daily coal throughput. The coal-derived "WONDERFUL PRODUCTS" have the following advantages:
• improved soil and stimulation of plant growth;
• improved water infiltration rate;
• improve water retention - vital for arid and semi-arid countries like South Africa;
• improved soil aeration - essential for healthy plant growth;
• reduced soil compaction and crust formation thereby allowing better water and nutrient penetration;
• reduced soil erosion;
• reduced dust formation and therefore air pollution;
• better fertiliser retention leading to more mileage from less fertiliser - it is not leached from the soil;
• improved availability of macro-and trace elements in soils;
• stimulates macro- and micro-organism growth;
• enhances structural and chemical soil qualities;
• improves root disease control;
• converts poor and depleted soils into healthy soils.
• In the light of the tragic accident at Tshikondeni Coal Mine when 10 miners perished trying to rescue a colleague, it is even more important that the new Mine Health and Safety Bill be put on the statute books as a matter of urgency. This should be possible within the next eight weeks.

Enquiries: Roland Darrol Phone : (o) (012) 322 8695; (cellular) 082 55 27994; (h) (012)43 3394

26 March 1996