Expansion plans in pipeline for coal terminal

AFTER its achievement in shipping a record-breaking 70.2 million tons of coal last year, Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) will now focus on pushing forward its Phase Six expansion plan.

Speaking at a press conference held at the terminal this week, RBCT CEO Nosipho Siwisa-Damasane said the terminal could increase its nameplate capacity from 91 million tons per annum (mtpa) to 110-million tons, allowing the terminal to accommodate more junior miners.

This comes after Transnet CEO Brian Molefe accused RBCT last year of not creating enough capacity for upcoming miners to enter the global marketplace and said it would consider building its own terminal next to RBCT.
‘The RBCT board and shareholders, in response to the call for more capacity allocation for junior miners, is exploring the phase six option and offering partnership with government through Transnet to provide an additional 19mtpa coal export capacity through the Richards Bay Coal Terminal and main coal line,’ said Siwisa-Damasane.
She said the company has already extended an invitation to the state-owned freight and rail group to step on board with this development.

And while the project is currently still in a ‘pre-feasibility’ phase, she said it would be the most cost effective terminal expansion in the country with expensive infrastructure, such as two berths, already made available.
‘Being a brownfield’s expansion (reclaimed industrial property), it would be at a much lower cost than developing a new terminal altogether,’ said Siwisa-Damasane.
‘It would further optimise the existing footprint with proven efficiency and at a low throughput cost to users.’
Based on the development’s initial planning, the equipment and construction required for phase six would include an additional tippler, ship loader, associated conveyors and the extension of the existing stockyard area.
Siwisa-Damasane also asserted that RBCT continues to communicate with junior miners wanting to export their product through the terminal.
‘We are spending a lot of time with them and working closely with the DMR (Department of Mineral Resources) relating to these engagements.’
Currently, the terminal’s 91mtpa capacity offers four million tons to 23 junior miners through its Quattro programme and 15 million tons to emerging black export miners.
Three million tons per annum is allocated to Eskom.