​The PGC [Pretorius Group of Companies], as it is known today, originated from a freelance mine survey company, established by Eugene Pretorius in 1982.

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The target market for mining service delivery has always been to junior and medium size mining houses, with the view of offering services to multiple clients, on a shared resource basis.

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Although the group started with provision of mine and technical services, the activities were diversified into opencast mining in 1988, with involvement in Trojan Opencast Mining, and later Atlantis Mining – an association with the Johnstone family.

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With the introduction of the MPRDA and associated mining and mineral legislation in the new millennium Precision Opencast Mining Services [Pty] Ltd was established in 2003, as a family concern [Eugene Snr, Eugene Jnr, Stephan and Tanya Museler and Lisa Desmond], with the associated group companies being established afterwards, in support of the PGC Group, with the aim of offering a total opencast mining service to new emerging South African mining concerns and ventures.

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The growth and success of the group, can only be attributed to its people, who are handpicked for their integrity, work ethic and their ability to adapt to, and contribute to, the changing face of South African business, and specifically the South African mining industry. The PGC team has progressed beyond a family concern, and now consists of experts in the different mining and management disciplines. The team of 600 employees are managed by an Executive Committee, which is detailed under management.

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The Group culture and objectives, were greatly influenced by peers such as the late William Ferguson [Mine developer], Sam Tolmay [Geologist and Economist], Peter Kane – Berman [Farmer and Mineral Rights developer], and many mining stalwarts from various Zimbabwean and South African Mining Groups and associated industry.

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In 2011, PGC embarked on further diversification, by entering into an agreement with a majority HDSA company, Hlagisa Mining [Pty] Ltd, to explore and develop a coal deposit, which is today an operating coal mine, Wildfontein Colliery, supplying over 2,000,000 tons per annum to ESKOM.

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In 2016, PGC entered into a total takeover agreement of Pembani Coal Carolina (PCC) which operations were further developed and today this Mine is known as Ilima Coal Company (Pty) Ltd (ICC).  

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Much emphasis is placed on modern technology, specifically in the technical field, where the technical entity, Eugene Pretorius and Associates, are, and have been forerunners in mobile laser scanning, and LIDAR scanning and mapping.

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Throughout the group, training and skills development, also enjoys a high priority, and recently an agreement was entered into a accredited training services provider for the establishment of an opencast mining training facility at Wildfontein Colliery which offers various and relevant training for opencast mining skills and Mine Health and Safety.

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Much emphasis is also placed on the preservation of the environment by implementation of rigid environmental practises and advanced surface restoration methods.