Question NW1757 to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
26 May 2023 - NW1757
Mathulelwa, Ms B to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
Given that the Republic’s energy grid relies heavily on coal and will continue to do so for some time, what (a) are the reasons that there is no budget for research and pilot programmes for clean coal technologies in the 2023-24 financial year and (b) partnerships exist between his department and other departments running similar research to ensure that clean coal technologies are incorporated into the energy generation methods going forward?
Reply:
a) In the current year 2023/24, the focussed research on the clean coal technology intervention through the Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) is undertaken through ring-fenced partnership funding between the South African government and the World Bank. It may be necessary to allocate a budget dedicated to this research in support of the just energy transition policy more sustainably.
b) The clean coal research represents a partnership amongst the DMRE, National Treasury, Eskom and the World Bank. The Council for Geoscience was elected as an implementing agent in 2021 to lead the research and implements the same through strategic partnerships to optimise the research outcomes and its application to use the abundant coal resources responsibly and in line with our multi-lateral commitment on climate mitigation measures.
Mintek currently has the following coal-related research projects: (1) Gasification of waste coal fines and co-gasification of low-grade coal and (2) Rare earth elements (REE) leaching from coal discards. We are currently in discussions with a funding agency to extract REE from acid mine drainage. Recent publications from Mintek research activities include:
- Literature review on the extraction of ultra-clean coal and rare earth elements from coal discards by ultrasonic-assisted chemical treatment,
- Characterisation of coal for the simultaneous extraction of rare earth elements and ultra-clean coal,
- Co-Carbonization of Discard Coal with Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate towards the Preparation of Metallurgical Coke, and
- Mineralogy and distribution of rare earth elements in the Waterberg coalfield high ash coals.
Mintek has budgeted R10 million for the next three years of its funds in coal-related research, and the funding is anticipated to increase as more funds are being sought.