Leonard Neill MPUMALANGA COAL company Coal Procurement SA is leading the way among small-scale operators to develop a new coal terminal in Richards Bay to meet its own export needs. The move among small-scale companies follows claims that price hikes by Spoornet have made it unprofitable to export through Durban. “All the smaller operators have been forced to seek alternative export routes,” says Coal Procurement managing director George Mayer. “The 35% rise in coal freight prices has affected the viability of using the Durban coal terminal.” His company has applied through the department of minerals and energy to use Richards Bay instead. Proposals include the construction of a coal terminal with an annual capacity of six million tons. The move comes as expansion plans for the existing Richards Bay coal terminal Phase V have ground to a halt. Earlier this year officials in the port were confident that the expansion plans would proceed on schedule but talks ‘behind doors’ have stalled further activity. Top brass in the harbour are reluctant to discuss the matter or disclose the problems that have arisen, with one official telling FTW ‘there is a lot of politicking going on, especially among the stakeholders, and it is all out of our hands.’
