The Fentonia coal mine in Kriel, Mpumalanga, which ceased operations in 2018, has officially reopened as the Asure Colliery, a move set to create approximately 150 direct jobs. Asure Resources confirmed that the facility has already commenced hiring across multiple departments, including mining operations, engineering, maintenance, administration, security, and logistics.
Economic Impact And Workforce Development
The initiative is expected to stimulate the regional economy, with projections indicating support for up to 700 jobs through the broader mining value chain and local contractors. Company leadership reports that their current workforce composition reflects a commitment to diversity, with 50% of the board consisting of youth and black representation, while women account for 80% of the total staff across group operations.
The reopening of Asure Colliery is about far more than bringing a mine back into production, it’s about restoring a strategic national asset, said Emmanuel Ngulube, Asure Resources Chief Executive.
We don’t measure success simply by the number of people we employ directly. We measure it by the number of families whose lives are improved, the businesses that grow alongside us and the opportunities we create for future generations.
Strategic Context In The Energy Sector
Located in the Mpumalanga Highveld, the Kriel area remains a critical hub for the country’s coal mining sector and serves as a major site for electricity production linked to Eskom. Official efforts to revive idled assets underscore a national drive to maintain energy security, while ongoing regional discourse continues to emphasise the importance of prioritising the hiring of local residents to ensure tangible community benefits.
Future developments at the colliery will be monitored as the company scales operations to meet its stated employment projections.