Liberty Coal Successfully Recommissions Dragline Following Major Refurbishment Programme

Liberty Coal has successfully recommissioned a key dragline at its Optimum Colliery following the completion of a comprehensive refurbishment and technical restoration programme valued at almost R500 million.

The Marion 8200 dragline, among the largest of its kind in the world, features a boom measuring just over 100 metres and can excavate coal to depths of nearly 80 metres while hoisting approximately 135 tonnes of material in a single scoop. The refurbishment included the installation of a state-of-the-art operator’s cab, integrated computerised offsite camera systems, as well as advanced performance and engine monitoring technology.

The recommissioning of the dragline marks an important operational milestone in Liberty Coal’s efforts to restore and strengthen mining operations at Optimum Colliery.

“This a huge milestone in terms of Liberty Coals plans to achieve full operational capacity of 1 million tons per month for the Optimum Colliery. The increase in production rates will directly translate into the creation of more jobs at the mine,” said Chauke.

As part of the refurbishment programme, structural integrity assessments and non-destructive testing (NDT) were conducted across major load-bearing components to verify compliance with design specifications and operational safety standards. The dragline’s bucket system, rigging components and fairlead assemblies were also inspected and refurbished to ensure optimal digging performance and reduce wear during high-volume overburden removal operations.

In addition, the project included servicing of the walking mechanism, slew system and associated lubrication systems to restore full operational reliability. Recommissioning activities were carried out in accordance with Liberty Coal’s engineering standards and mine safety protocols, including comprehensive functional testing of the hoist, drag and swing systems prior to returning the machine to service.

The dragline will play a central role in Liberty Coal’s planned surface mining operations, enabling large-scale overburden stripping to expose underlying coal seams. Following its return to operating capacity after years of neglect and vandalism, Liberty Coal expects significantly improved stripping ratios and efficiencies in overburden removal cycles, supporting increased run-of-mine (ROM) coal production once fully deployed.

“The project required careful engineering oversight, specialist technical expertise, and close coordination between maintenance, engineering, and operations teams. Returning this asset to service strengthens our stripping capacity and supports long-term production objectives,” said Peter Nordin, Chief Operating Officer at Liberty Coal.

The refurbishment programme was executed through collaboration between Liberty Coal’s in-house engineering and maintenance teams and specialist contractors with expertise in large-scale mining equipment. All work was completed under strict safety and quality assurance procedures.

“Our goal is to mine efficiently to ensure the business is sustainable and the jobs created at the mine are also sustainable. The refurbishment of the dragline demonstrates Liberty Coals commitment to investment into the mine and investing into the future,” Chauke said.

Liberty Coal continues to invest in sustaining capital projects and asset reliability initiatives to ensure that its mining fleet operates at optimal performance while maintaining the highest safety and environmental standards.

About Liberty Coal

Liberty Coal is a South African coal producer focused on responsible surface mining practices, operational reliability and efficient resource extraction. The company is committed to maintaining high engineering standards and supporting the sustainable development of the regional mining industry.