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Business Day and Financial Mail articles
21/10/2009
Business Day
XSTRATA Coal announced today that it has received Xstrata plc board approval for the full implementation of the ATCOM East Project in South Africa, at a capital commitment of approximately $407 million, or R3.2bn.
The project will be integrated into the existing Xstrata Coal South Africa ATCOM infrastructure and produce about 5.7 million tons per annum of run of mine production and 3.1 million tons of saleable thermal product for domestic and export markets annually.
"The ATCOM East Project will play a significant role in the continued growth and development of Xstrata Coal's South African operations," said Xstrata Coal chief executive Peter Freyberg in a statement.
Implementation of the project includes the purchase of mining equipment, upgrade of the existing coal handling and processing plant and the construction of new infrastructure.
The operation will create 900 new jobs during construction, with 263 permanent jobs at full production and is expected to ramp up to full integrated production in 2011.
ATCOM East was formerly part of the Douglas Tavistock Joint Venture between XCSA (16%) and BHP Billiton Energy Coal South Africa (84%).
Xstrata approved the separation of the DTJV in February 2008 and XCSA will take full ownership of its 16% share of reserves and mobile equipment at the beginning of December 2009.
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Financial Mail Solar powered third brake light |
While most modern vehicles come standard with a third brake light, more older car models need to be retrofitted with such a device due to new road safety legislation to reduce the high number of rear-end collisions.
However, retrofitting a third brake light requires additional electric wiring that complicates the installation if it has to work in tandem with the vehicle's own brake light and turn signalling system. This third brake light assembly contains a solar cell panel that charges an internal battery, which then supplies power to a driving light, brake light and turn signal light incorporated into the housing. The third brake light assembly also comes with a small wireless transmitter, which is linked to the vehicle's light and brake light switch. When brakes are applied or indicators activated, a corresponding RF signal is transmitted wirelessly to a RF receiver inside the third brake light housing. The signal is used to activate the brake light, working light or indicator while driving |
