Join the Forefront of Coal Industry Innovation

Next-generation coal preparation plants are proposed to utilize modular, compact, and energy-efficient systems to reduce water and chemical use. Scientifically, these designs integrate advanced separation techniques, e.g. the use of reflux classifiers, sensor-based sorting, and simulation-based optimization. Their industrial significance is due to their ability to improve yield, lower operational costs, and adapt to different coal qualities, especially in developing regions with infrastructure constraints. There is a significant lack of knowledge when it comes to fully integrating some of the techniques, and the conference hopes to address this gap.

Precision beneficiation is necessary for coking coal to reduce ash and moisture while maintaining vitrinite content and fluidity, which is crucial for coke-making. To improve product quality, advanced float-sink analysis, petrographic studies, and froth flotation techniques are used. Processing low-rank or high-ash coal and developing alternatives for blending ratios of prime coal and semi-soft coal are among the challenges that are emerging.

Dry coal beneficiation technologies like air-dense medium fluidized beds, windsifter, triboelectrical separation, and sensor-based sorting can provide a waterless solution for coal upgrading. Scientifically, these methods rely on the physical and electrostatic properties of coal and minerals, enabling separation without slurry formation. In arid regions or areas where water management is challenging, they are becoming more relevant. There remains a significant gap in the scaling of these technologies for ultra-fine coal and improving separation precision, which is why the conference needs to address it.

Gravity concentration is a method that relies on specific gravity differences to separate coal from impurities, with the help of equipment such as jigs, spirals, and dense medium cyclones. The scientific effectiveness of this technique is still evident for coarse and intermediate coal sizes due to its cost-efficiency and simplicity. In industrial coal preparation, it plays a crucial role, particularly in reducing ash and improving calorific value. The conference’s current research focuses on maximizing fine fraction extraction and enhancing separation processes in high-ash or near-density materials.

To prepare coal for beneficiation and enhance liberation and surface area for downstream processes, mechanical size reduction is essential. In order to reduce fines and overgrinding, the process needs to balance energy input with particle breakage mechanisms scientifically. Optimized sizing in industry can enhance separation efficiency, combustion performance, and handling. Developing intelligent, wear-resistant equipment and energy-efficient comminution systems is the goal of ongoing research, and some of these areas will be covered at the conference.

Advanced flotation methods are employed in fine coal processing to recover high-value fines that are typically below 0.5 mm, and then they are dewatered efficiently using screens, centrifuges, and membrane filters. To enhance selectivity and recovery, scientific advances have included reagent development, column flotation, and microbubble generation. Maximizing yield and minimizing slurry waste in preparation plants is crucial in this area. There are still obstacles to economically dewatering ultra-fine coal and managing flotation tailings sustainably. There are papers that will cover these areas, providing new solutions to address the challenges mentioned above.

The digital transformation in coal preparation involves real-time process control, machine learning, and sensor integration to monitor quality and optimize the plant. Predictive maintenance and adaptive operation are being made possible by scientific advancements in process modeling, control algorithms, and data fusion. These technologies improve efficiency, safety, and consistency throughout the coal processing industry. Integration challenges are still present in legacy systems and low-connectivity environments, especially in developing regions. The contribution of this initiative will be highlighted during the conference.

Coal washing produces solid rejects and liquid effluents that are rich in fine particles and dissolved contaminants, necessitating effective treatment and disposal strategies. Various scientific techniques are used, including thickening, flocculation, mine backfilling, and effluent neutralization. Effective management is essential for ensuring environmental compliance and reducing liabilities in mining regions. The conference will focus on innovative gaps such as circular approaches to reuse washery by-products and scalable zero-discharge technologies.

The recovery of valuable coal while mitigating environmental legacies is achieved by reprocessing rejects and tailings from old or inefficient coal plants. The scientific approach is to characterize waste material, optimize recovery through regrinding and flotation, and evaluate energy inputs. As mines seek to improve resource efficiency and land reclamation benefits, the industry is becoming more relevant. Gaps that would be addressed in this conference include economic feasibility on a scale and effective processing of highly weathered or oxidized materials.

Coal preparation contributes to environmental concerns through water use, dust, greenhouse gas emissions, and habitat disruption. Scientific research is driving low-impact technologies, emissions reduction, and carbon accounting tools within plant design. The relevance spans energy policy, ESG compliance, and community engagement, with coal companies increasingly held to climate performance standards. A key gap lies in integrating coal beneficiation into broader decarbonization frameworks and lifecycle sustainability assessments.

The global coal market is changing as demand shifts towards high-quality thermal and coking coals, and emerging uses in carbon materials, thermal energy storage application, and rare earth recovery. Research into carbon conversion, advanced material synthesis, coal composite for building application, and fabricated soil is redefining coal’s role scientifically. Markets such as the ones mentioned above offer new revenue streams and opportunities. The gap lies in integrating coal-derived products into these new value chains, and some of the solutions provided will be highlighted during the conference.

Devraj Reddy, Exxaro, South Africa
Jaco Scholtz, Pentalin
Jayson Jacobs, Enprotec South Africa
Prof. Marco Le Roux, Northwest University, South Africa
Refiloe Maila, Hatch South Africa
Maynard Lombard, Thungela South Africa
Peter Hand, Isandla Coal Consulting cc
Quentin Campbell, Northwest University, South Africa
Samson BADA, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
Tebogo Kale, Gravitas Minerals South Africa
Jacqui Burn, Southern African Coal Processing Society.
Vumeka Buthelezi, Worley South Africa
Charlene Hefer, Specialised Exhibitions,
Gill Slaughter, Turners Conferences