Two respected South African mining aficionados have joined forces with the incorporation of their newest joint venture, Tlou Commodities, to engage and grow the local mining sector during what is certainly a volatile time in the world.
This announcement highlights the latest endeavour of mining stalwarts, Lucky Kgatle and Quinton van der Burgh in their joint pursuit to create a successful, sustainable, coal and metal conglomerate with roots in responsible environmental practices and the advancement of the previously disadvantaged.
Kgatle has 20 years’ proven experience under his belt, having managed large projects, the latest of which is Sasol Mining’s ambitious business transformation programme. Kgatle, just recently ended his tenure as senior vice president of Sasol Mining, a successful coal mining company that controls six mines that collectively produce close to 40 million tons of thermal coal per annum as feedstock supply to JSE-listed petrochemicals company, Sasol Limited, and to the export market. Throughout his career, Kgatle has been driven by a passion for innovation and business improvement and has succeeded in building strong, sustainable partnerships with key players in the mining industry.
Kgatle can analyse and approach complex challenges from numerous avenues and offer solutions specific to each relevant business sector in a manner only possible for someone with his experience. He is confident in walking this road with van der Burgh, the man at the helm of Q Global Commodities (Pty) Ltd (“QGC”) who has become, through his plethora of initiatives and ventures, a mining magnate in his own right, able to muster immense resources based on his achievements in the industry.
During the past 17 years in which van der Burgh has operated in the mining sector, his expertise has extended and compounded to contain vast insight into even the minutiae of the mining process in addition to the geological and legal aspects that come along with it. Through his portfolio of subsidiaries, he has successfully embarked on over forty projects including the fulfilment of numerous mining rights and has overseen the movement of over eighty million tons of coal through his numerous links in the supply chain, from extraction to the delivery at sidings.
In 2020, van der Burgh rebranded and consolidated all his mining operations and related services under the banner of QGC which has quickly established itself as one of Africa’s largest privately-owned mining portfolios, boasting self-sustaining subsidiaries in logistics, beneficiation, and plant-hire. In the past financial year, QGC delivered more than seven million tons of various grades of coal to the international and domestic markets.
Quinton van der Burgh has an eye on expanding the South African mining industry with strategic partnerships, focused on historically disadvantaged aspirants in the mining sector. He is striving to bring further substance to the concept of Black Economic Empowerment.
With access to market-leading resources, Tlou Commodities’ projects are designed not only with mining in mind, but also with the intention and ability to market and to sell our products, both domestically and internationally.
This distinctive joint venture between a corporate miner like Kgatle and van der Burgh, one of the most successful businessmen in the private mining sector, is a major consideration for the local industry.
“Lucky and I believe that Tlou Commodities has the potential to become an industry giant in the not-too-distant future and are prepared and excited to offer our assistance and provide our resources and expertise for Tlou Commodities to not only reach, but to exceed its current potential,” explains South African businessman, van der Burgh.
He adds: “We believe that a company is only as good as the person behind it, and we are therefore confident in partnering with Lucky who not only holds respectable qualifications, but also enjoys a wealth of hands-on experience in the mining sector, having been involved in operational, strategic and leadership roles throughout his notable career.”
In launching this venture, the company has already secured access to a private equity fund to the value of R5 billion and QGC is looking to have a positive influence on the effects that the Covid-19 has had on the country.
He explains: “I revel in philanthropy and the work undertaken through my charity organisation; The Quinton van der Burgh Foundation. Lucky and I look forward to steering the philanthropic efforts of the organisations to benefit communities around our assets, surpassing present industry norms.”
Tlou Commodities places great emphasis on the principle of environmental sustainability, aiming to remain consistent in the stabilisation and restoration of all disturbed areas as soon as practicably possible to ensure the beneficial use of the mined areas for generations to come.
“Until the objective of exclusively renewable energy is realized in South Africa, we are committed to the diligent and responsible extraction and processing of our products, always having a healthy appetite for new technologies and processes aimed at reducing any adverse environmental impact and waste,” says Kgatle, who he is excited to embark on this adventure with Tlou Commodities and QGC.
With the technical and financial support of QGC and its affiliates, coupled with Kgatle’s extensive experience and network, Tlou Commodities is poised to become the true example of a black-owned mining start-up growing into an independent, proudly South African behemoth.
“Tlou Commodities and QGC, together, look forward to this relationship moving from strength to strength, applying their respective resources and expertise at every step of the journey to ensure its success,” says van der Burgh.
For more details, visit the websites:
MORE ABOUT LUCKY KGATLE
- Lucky Kgatle began his journey in the mining industry after obtaining his BSc in engineering in 2001. He went on to obtain his MBA in 2009. During his career in the industry, now spanning beyond two decades, he has thrived in leadership roles encompassing both operational and strategic elements and responsibilities which resulted in his appointment as the Senior Vice President of Sasol Mining. Lucky served on the boards of five Sasol-related companies, and he has represented Sasol Mining in industry forums such as the Minerals Council of South Africa.
- Lucky’s commitment to positive and substantive transformation led to his roles in managing large transformational projects involving significant organisational complexity. His experience and leadership abilities also contributed to the successful navigation of Sasol Mining through periods of extreme volatility, uncertainty and extensive changes in the industrial environment including the commitment and transition to the pursuit of zero-harm and the zero-tolerance approach to occupational health and safety; prolonged unprotected labour disputes and most recently, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Throughout his career, Lucky has been driven by a passion for innovation and business improvement and he has succeeded in building strong, sustainable partnerships.
MORE ABOUT QUINTON VAN DER BURGH
- South-African-born entrepreneur, Quinton van der Burgh (“QVDB”) entrenched himself in South African business folklore by establishing Voda-Tella International at the mere age of 22. Based in London at the time, the organisation primarily focused on the supply and distribution of telecommunication services and devices, but Voda-Tella International would go on to operate in twelve countries.
- With an eye for marketing and an extensive understanding of mergers and acquisitions, QVDB founded Quinton van der Burgh Investments which has invested in an array of industries ranging from Fin-Tech to Aviation, Entertainment to Hospitality but has more recently focused most of his investments in commodities, including the Mining of Coal and Metal assets throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Through his foundation (“QVDBF”) and association with and ownership in Generosity Water, QVDB started his philanthropic journey by establishing water wells throughout Southern Africa and ensuring that communities and schools in desperate need were provided with access to safe and clean drinking water. This ongoing initiative has, to date, helped over 415 000 fellow South Africa’s exercise their inalienable human right to water.
- Often quoted, “I’m not just wanting to change someone’s life for a day or a month, I truly want to change their lives for life!”, QVDB has extended his charitable undertakings to include the #ActOfGenerosity, an initiative designed at encouraging fellow South Africans to share their stories and one that promises that selected applicants are assisted with the support they need to rebuild their lives, regardless of the nature of the assistance required. From settling credit card debt, to paying for operations or schooling, QVDB has ensured that the selected candidates’ dignity and standing in society were restored. For more on this initiative please go to: www.qvdbfoundation.co.za .
