Daly steps into the Johannesburg-based role from his previous job as the director of mining and technical services at AMCI Africa for their Mozambican and South African operations. He has also previously held management positions at BHP Billiton, Middleburg mine and Zululand Anthracite Colliery.
Van der Merwe comes aboard the Beacon Hill management team to take the lead on the emerging Minas Moatize rail operation. He is an engineer with coal trading qualifications and comes most recently from his role as a rail and port consultant at BHP Billiton.
Beacon Hill chief executive officer Rowan Karstel said in a statement that he is delighted to have secured the new members of the senior management team.
“Both bring the benefit of over 40 years of cumulative experience in the sector and are highly respected in their fields of expertise,” Karstel said.
“The new additions strengthen the company’s executive committee at a critical time and will play a key role in ramping up the Minas Moatize coking coal mine into full production.”
Both positions became effective on March 1.
The Minas Moatize Coal Mine is located in the Tete Province of Mozambique and holds a total mineable reserve of 42.65Mt with the potential of a further 7.9Mt.
Beacon Hill commenced open pit mining of thermal coal from an initial open pit area in 2011 and aims to increase production to 4Mtpa ROM, producing on average 2.2Mtpa of saleable coking and thermal coal for the life of mine.
The company last week announced that it had raised up to $25 million capital predominantly to fund the rail sidings required to transport coal from the Minas Moatize mine to the port of Beira.
