Durban coal terminal relocation denied

CLIVE EMDON BIDVEST HAS flatly denied recent media reports of plans to move the Durban coal terminal to Richards Bay. Bloomberg last Friday reported that talks between the company and Spoornet were under way, citing environmental concerns for the move to relocate so-called “dirty” terminals away from big cities. Iain Geldart, MD of Bidvest’s Bulk Connections, told FTW there was no substance whatsoever to official talks between Bidvest and Spoornet. He said there was no plan to relocate the Durban coal terminal. “Although there were talks up until 2001 about the possibility, these were not ongoing.” He confirmed that the company had invested R100m in the past year in the Durban terminal. “And there is no question of pollution. We are the only facility of its kind using settling ponds to deal with any such concerns.” He said in addition Spoornet had upgraded its rail facility to the terminal from a C status to an A-grade status, as well as providing new dedicated wagons for its use. “These only endorse our operation rather than suggest an alternative.” Spoornet spokesman Mike Asefovitz declined to comment to FTW. The Durban terminal, capable of handling more than 2 million tons of coal and other commodities a year, and run by Bidvest’s Bulk Connections unit, is the second-biggest coal export port in South Africa. Bloomberg reported that Bidvest spent about R100 million ($14 million) last year on the Durban terminal, boosting its storage capacity to 200 000 tons from 60 000 tons and almost tripling its daily coal-loading capacity to 17000 tons.