About anthracite: product and markets

Anthracite is the highest ranking of all coals; as the most transformed coal it is the least abundant, accounting for less than 2% of world reserves.

The carbon content of anthracite can be as high as 98%, whereas volatiles and impurities are low. This makes anthracite a clean-burning and smokeless fuel source.

Since carbon is a vital component associated with the production of titanium slag and pig iron from mineral sands, ferrochrome, ferromanganese and silicon carbide, anthracite – a cost-effective alternative to coking coal - is in high global demand.

In South Africa, the gap between anthracite demand and supply – both local and imported – is expected to be almost 800kt in 2012.

It is estimated that, by 2015, the global supply shortfall will be some 21.7Mt.