Big investment in fleet expansion pays off

INDICATING THE massive growth in the Zambian economy and its impact on transport operators, in the past 18 months GDC’s fleet in Zambia has grown from 40 to 150 vehicles. This is the maximum allowed by Zambian law per company. The main focus of GDC is copper mining in Zambia and the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In total, 720 loads weighing 28 tons each are moved every month which include exports and imports, with the majority of exports being copper or copper concentrates. Most of these copper exports are transported to Durban or Johannesburg. On the import side, GDC transports machinery, cement, mining equipment and general consumables including construction consumables. Over the past year the Zambian economy has grown and created a tremendous need for consumables in all industries. A lot of cargo is also transported to the DRC for construction purposes. Desai, who believes the biggest selling point of GDC is the size of its operation. The group as a whole has close to 500 cross-border vehicles in the region (with the majority based in Zimbabwe) which means they have the capacity to move huge consignments. GDC moreover owns a fleet of specialised tankers capable of carrying petroleum products and a fleet of acid tankers which focus on the movement of sulphuric acid for the mines. The company’s infrastructure is also widespread, reaching from the Copperbelt to Durban with offices in every major centre across the route. The copper is moved in convoy as security is becoming increasingly important. All trucks are tracked by satellite and there are armed guards both in the trucks and escorting the trucks, especially through Zambia and then again from Musina onwards.