Transnet says private sector will help fund new mega-terminal at Richards Bay - Miningmx

TRANSNET is working with private sector investors to develop a chrome and magnetite mega-terminal at Richards Bay and a manganese terminal at Coega, CEO Portia Derby said on Wednesday.

Other than to say wagons would be added, Derby did not provide details of how the public private partnership would benefit the iron ore rail line or export terminal at Saldanha, or the the coal line to the privately-owned Richards Bay Coal Terminal.

In an earlier session, Exxaro CFO, Riaan Koppeschaar said there was a possibility of mining companies assisting Transnet with services and financing. ARM CFO Tsundzukani Mhlanga said there were discussions with Transnet on contributing capital or any other services.

Derby said Transnet’s goal was to expand iron ore export capacity to 67 million tonnes a year (Mt/y). Manganese capacity would be increased to 22Mtpy, aiming for manganese export channels through both Coega and Saldanha, but this was dependent on securing air emissions licences.

Transnet had no intention of increasing its coal rail capacity beyond 81Mtpy because funders are not interested in coal projects and Transnet cannot afford to use its own balance sheet, she said.

It has maintained its commitment to 9.5Mt/y capacity on the Waterberg line, and while it would not build a connection through to Botswana, to enable the landlocked country to export its coal, Transnet would facilitate any connection that Botswana wished to build. In chrome and magnetite, Transnet’s goal is 9.8Mt/y of...

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