Cotecna opens new commercial laboratory in Richards Bay, South Africa

The need for a commercial mineral testing facility in South Africa was identified as part of Cotecna’s bigger regional development and growth plan. The sample preparation facility previously used could only accommodate coal samples, so a whole new facility was designed and constructed during 2019 to provide customers with weighing, sampling, sample preparation and analytical services for all minerals & metals exported through Richards Bay.

The laboratory is strategically positioned in the Port of Richards Bay, where over 30 varied mineral commodities from ferrochrome, non-ferrous concentrates, manganese and other minerals include all South African Coal exports take place, enabling Cotecna to provide a pit-to-port customized service to our existing upstream coal clients, metals and mineral trading markets.

The new facility will serve as a hub to which semi-prepared samples from various inland satellite sample preparation facilities will be sent and boasts the ability to accommodate dual-stream sample preparation and analyses on multiple commodities. There is a dedicated coal preparation area, with associated laboratories, as well as a minerals section which will focus on preparation and analysis of commodities including chrome ore, chrome concentrate, manganese ore, and iron ore.

To learn more about the full range of coal and mineral services we offer, including being the only commercial laboratory in Southern Africa to offer Transportable Moisture Limit (TML) services, please don’t hesitate to contact us.