MCM.L Regulatory News (MCM)

15 Sep 2009 07:00



ANNOUNCEMENT 15 SEPTEMBER 2009

COAL LOADS FIRST TRAIN AT MOOIPLAATS

Further to its Market Update on 13 July 2009, Coal of Africa Limited ("CoAL" or the "Company"), the AIM/ASX/JSE listed coal mining and development company operating in South Africa (ticker: CZA), is pleased to announce it has successfully completed its first sale and loading of its first train of mid volatile "lean" coal mined at the Company's Mooiplaats thermal coal project in the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa ("Mooiplaats Project").

CoAL began trucking the coal from the Mooiplaats Project on 8 September 2009, with the first train loaded on 11 September and the second train loaded the following day, both at the Umlabo siding bound for the Matola Terminal in Maputo, Mozambique.

The Company will continue to load further trains to utilise the maximum available stockpile at the Matola Terminal of approximately 80,000 tonnes. The shipping program is anticipated to commence in the last of quarter of calendar 2009. 

Simon Farrell, Managing Director, today commented "This is a very exciting time for the Company. Reaching this major milestone marks the transition from an exploration and development company into a mining company. The system is now in place to facilitate the ramp up of production once mining of the export quality thermal coal commences, which as previously advised is expected to be in November at the earliest or Q1 2010 at the latest."

AUTHORISED BY:

Simon Farrell 

Managing Director

For more information contact:

Simon Farrell, Managing Director CZA  +61 417 985 383 or  +61(8) 9322 6776

Peter Bacchus/ Alastair Cochran Morgan Stanley +44(0) 20 7425 8000

Simon Edwards/ Chris Sim Evolution Securities +44(0) 20 7071 4300

Jos Simson/ Leesa Peters Conduit PR +44(0) 20 7429 6603

Melanie de Nysschen Macquarie First South Advisers +27(11) 583 2000

About CoAL:

Coal of Africa Limited ("CoAL") is primarily focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of thermal and metallurgical coal projects. The Company's key projects, along with its leading metals processing company NiMag Group (Pty) Ltd are in South Africa. The Company was incorporated in Western Australia and listed in 1980. Since 2005, the Company has also listed on both the AIM and JSE markets, allowing further growth in the Company's coal assets.