Our Companies

Megacube Mining

Megacube Mining was the first division established in the company. Its first client was BHP Billiton and it now provides contract services to Optimum Coal, Exxaro and Nkomati Anthracite.

Benicon Opencast Mining and Supplies

Benicon, a contract mining company, supplies the full range of mining operations, covering the movement and management of all aspects of overburden removal and coal extraction to specified production budgets. This includes all drilling and blasting operations as well as the movement and management of mine rehabilitation programmes to EMPR specifications. Sentula acquired Benicon in June 2006. Its major client is Anglo Coal and it operates a fleet of medium sized electrically powered drag-lines.

CCT Opencast Mining

In January 2002, Chief Executive Officer Louis Swart, founded "Classic Challenge Trading", better known as CCT. The company has been involved in Opencast Mining, since inception.

CCT have been appointed as the sole contractor, at Samancor Chrome Mines, to provide an exceptional Opencast mining service.

CCT's safety standards are considered as the benchmark, within the Samancor group. The company provides a wide range of opencast mining services including; Load and Haul, Crushing and Screening, and Drill and Blast, which are carried out to a highest level of quality with skilled performance.

CCT employs 140 employees providing training and promoting silks development. The company is stable with a highly skilled workforce able to take advantage of diverse business opportunities.

The company's opencast site includes chrome/platinum and quartz. CCT's offices are based in the Steelpoort area, with head office in Ermelo.

Although CCT is a contractor, all the earthmoving equipment and support infrastructure is owned and operated by CCT.

The company specialises in opencast mining, crushing and screening and collectively believe in their mission of performance excellence to embrace safety regulations, yet remaining environmentally friendly.

Mission: To produce, and be an efficient opencast miner, at a lower cost, with no harm to people, the environment, equipment and the community.

OVERBURDEN DRILLING & BLASTING

This specialist drilling and blasting business was set up as a standalone entity in support of opencast mining contracts and to meet the shift towards outsourcing this function.

JEF Drill and Blast

The acquisition of JEF Drill & Blasting in early 2007 accelerated the formation of this division. JEF Drill and Blast is a specialised drilling and blasting entity, which uses 28 specialist drilling rigs in the opencast mining sector, primarily in coal. This division services all of Sentula's opencast mining as well as an expanding external client base.

EQUIPMENT & SPARES

The strategic replacement of equipment and plant has continued to maintain the group's competitiveness and capacity expansion requirements
The procurement of used equipment globally, for overhaul and deployment of spares has continued to alleviate the tight conditions experienced in equipment supply

Geosearch International

Geosearch originally started out in Zimbabwe in 1989. Set up by Mike and Cavan Warren, it expanded rapidly into an 18 rig operation. Mike later wanted to expand further and set up Afridrill (Tanzania) Ltd which was the first independent drilling company to operate in Tanzania in 1992. By 1997 Afridrill was operating 17 rigs for various exploration companies in Tanzania. Afridrill was then sold to Layne Christensen and was merged with Stanley Mining Services in Tanzania.

Geosearch International was formed in October 2000 and acquired all the assets of Geosearch Zimbabwe as well as numerous other rigs and equipment. Since then the company has been operating in many countries across Africa.

On 1 October 2006 Sentula Mining Limited acquired Geosearch and Transbor, collectively forming Sentula's exploration drilling division. The Geosearch Group comprises Geosearch Holdings (Proprietary) Limited, which is held 100% by Sentula.

Today Geosearch is Africa's largest exploration drilling company, owning 130 exploration drilling rigs run by highly experienced and efficient operations crews. Geosearch employs approximately 1200 permanent staff and contractors, and performs services for companies diversified across all commodities, including, platinum, gold, coal, copper, cobalt, nickel and uranium. Its client base includes companies such as Sasol, Angloplat Limited, Lonmin Limited, Eland Platinum Limited, Anglogold Limited, Banro Resources Limited, Moto Mines Limited and Phelps Dodge.

In addition to its SA operations, GI currently operates in Botswana, DRC, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Gabon and the Central African Republic.

The transaction in which Sentula acquired the assets of Geosearch International and Transbor was approved in October 2006.

MOBILE CRANE HIRE

Ritchie Crane Hire
Witbank-based Ritchie Crane Hire was acquired by Sentula in March 2007. The company uses around 20 medium to heavy load mobile cranes with capacities that range from 25 to 220 tons. The company is engaged in crane hire projects in the mining and construction sectors in the Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces. These sectors are currently experiencing strong growth opportunities.

COAL JOINT VENTURES

Nkomati Anthracite

Large reserve base in excess of 80million tons.
Moderate, but strong market for anthracite from this region
Strong 60/40 Joint venture with the community.

Merafe Coal

Establishment of a JV to optimise the 'stranded' coal resources held in Merafe Resources Limited and Sentula Mining in Mpumalanga.
A SA empowered vehicle to pursue coal opportunities.
Properties in Development: Schoongezicht � Q3 2009 Bankfontein � Q3 2009. Combined annual sales of 2,85 million tons at full production
Exploration Properties: Driefontein, Rietfontein, Vlaklaagte. Currently holds prospecting licenses over five properties

Koornfontein Mine

Purchase of 49.9% stake in operation
Good base to develop nearby coal reserves, including those of Merafe Coal.
Provides a good platform to grow junior coal company.

Mabapa Mining

Equity for development stake in a potential coking coal prospect in Limpopo Province.
Up to 75% stake in the potential operation.
Combined resources estimated to be 50.5million tons

Jonah Coal / Aquila Resources

High demand & growth in coal generated power & energy opportunities
Project areas situated near rail, raod and power infrastructure covering 4,719km2
Initial exploration drilling has commenced.