By Swelihle Mabaso
The MMP participated in the CoalTech Colloquium 2026, held on the 28 May 2026, at the ANEW Hotel & Convention Centre OR Tambo in Benoni. As a premier annual gathering for the South African coal industry, the event served as a critical platform for over 600 delegates and 50 represented companies to connect, share research, and co-create solutions for a more competitive and sustainable sector.
The one-day colloquium focused on cutting-edge research, development, and innovation. The programme featured 10 technical presentations covering critical themes such as clean coal technologies, digital transformation, and sustainable mine closure. The colloquium provided a platform to engage with industry stakeholders, share insights from its research programmes and demonstrate how its RDI initiatives are contributing to the development of technologies and solutions for a more competitive, sustainable and future-ready coal industry.
As part of the exhibition stand, the MMP team engaged in both “quick chats and deep conversations” with stakeholders, students and industry representatives. By exhibiting alongside other entities, MMP strengthened the Precinct’s position as a vital connector between research and industry. “The CoalTech Colloquium provided an excellent platform to showcase how collaborative research and innovation can support safer, smarter and more sustainable mining,” says Michelle Pienaar, AOK Programme Manager, Mandela Mining Precinct.
By participating in these high-level events, the MMP continues to support innovation and foster meaningful collaboration required to shape a modernising local mining industry.
