Our opinion on the current state of THUNGELA(TGA)Thungela (TGA) is Anglo American's coal assets which has been unbundled into the hands of Anglo shareholders and separately listed on the JSE and the LSE because of Anglo's policy of moving away from carbon-based fossil fuels like coal. Anglo sold its last 8% of Thungela on 25th March 2022 for R1,67bn.
Thungela is a major thermal coal exporter in South Africa. It has over 7500 employees and exports coal to Asia, India, SEA, and East and North African countries. The company owns 50% of Phola, which operates a coal processing plant, and it has a 23,22% interest in the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT). The company has the capacity to produce over 90m tons of coal per annum. The company operates seven mines in South Africa, four open cast and three underground.
In its results for the six months to 30th June 2024, the company reported revenue up 17% and headline earnings per share (HEPS) down 58%. The company said, "Group capital expenditure of R1.5 billion, reflecting the disciplined execution of the life extension projects in South Africa - Profit of R1.2 billion, including R419 million from Australia, demonstrating the benefits from the Group's geographic diversification."
In a pre-close statement on the year to 31st December 2024, the financial director said, "...we are confident that we will exceed the full-year export saleable production guidance in South Africa and Australia. The various Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) initiatives, supported by the coal industry, have allowed for the annualised run rate to 30 November 2024 to increase to approximately 52Mt, or 56Mt."
The share began trading on the JSE on 7th June 2021 and immediately fell to 2190c from 2600c. It was originally estimated to be worth a minimum of 4400c but reached a high of 37752c on 16th September 2022. Since then, it has been moving sideways and downwards with lower coal prices and problems with Transnet. Obviously, it is also subject to the volatility of being a single commodity share and dependent on Transnet to get its product to port.
The company has committed to paying out at least 30% of "...adjusted operating free cash flow" in the form of a dividend.
In a trading statement for the year to 31st December 2024, the company estimated that HEPS will be between 24% and 31% lower than in the comparable period. It will drift sideways until the price of coal increases—if it ever does.
On 21st January 2025, the company announced that its CEO, July Ndlovu, will retire in July 2025 and be replaced by Moses Madondo on 1st August 2025.