The result of the beneficiation of South African coals are the generation of approximately 60-million tonnes per annum of discard coal, which is estimated to have already accumulated to more than 1-billion tonnes. While these large amounts of carbonaceous material negatively affect the environment, they also contain significant amounts of usable coal. Discard coal is a major concern to the DME regarding the potential environmental impact in the future. It should also be seen as a major resource that could provide economic opportunities. In 2001, the Department of Energy commissioned a survey to establish an inventory of the discard and duff coal in South Africa. Download the national inventory discard and duff coal: 2001 summary report get link