A new chapter for SA mining

摘要

Following the publication of South Africa's third Mining Charter in 2018, Exxaro has already announced that it will develop seven new coal mines, signalling that the prolonged period of weak investment is coming to an end. Yet it is vital that the industry's transport infrastructure is upgraded if Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) is to reverse the 4% fall in coal exports it recorded last year. RBCT shipped 73.5 Mt in 2018, down from 76.5 Mt over the previous year. Vessels were unable to enter or leave the terminal for 36 days in 2018 because of rough weather, and RBCT chairperson Nosipho Siwisa-Damasane said that the port would have to get used to strong winds and high swells because of climate change. RBCT now operates three tugs to help it clear vessel backlogs following periods of bad weather.