Terminal grows for junior miners

EXPANSION work on Grindrod’s Richards Bay coal terminal has begun, increasing its capacity from three million tons per annum (mtpa) to 20 mtpa for Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) companies and junior miners.

The freight service provider is currently connecting its Navitrade coal terminal to its next-door neighbour RBT’s land to develop a fully mechanised coal export terminal spread over a 41-hectare plot called RBT-Grindrod.

‘Navitrade is already in operation and is an ideal terminal for junior miners,’ said RBT-Grindrod CEO Bongani Biyela.

‘The expansion will happen in phases – five million tons in the next six months and then eight million tons, 10 million tons and eventually 20 million tons annual throughput capacity.

‘We will look at an inland terminal when the annual throughput capacity reaches eight million tons.

‘This will allow junior miners to consolidate greater volumes so the terminal could accommodate different grades of coal, spot loading and beneficiation,’ Biyela said.

Shareholding for the joint venture (JV) is split 50.1% for RBT and 49.9% for Grindrod, making it a black controlled company.