Why are we friends of coal?

The South African coal mining industry, of which the founders are part, is beset by several threats. They include the pending closure of coal-fired power plants, logistics bottlenecks and the rise of anti-coal organisations. Notwithstanding the magnitude of the threats, there is no collective response from the coal industry.

On platforms that purport to discuss the future of coal mining, coal mining companies are conspicuously absent, with their voice diminished on important policy decisions. It is within this context that concerned coal mining entrepreneurs met on 2 April 2024 to conceptualise efforts to respond to the challenges that require industry-wide actions. Friends of Coal was established to act as an organising platform through which member coal mining companies and their representatives, can promote coal and its benefits in South Africa.