Eskom committed to rail switch

Power utility Eskom remains committed to moving coal from road to rail with anything from 20-30 million tons expected to be off the road within the next ten years. “It will achieve this through various initiatives, with the aim of improving the cost and safety of coal logistics and ultimately ensuring the security of coal supply,” said one of the company’s senior logistics managers, Edward Funyufunyu, at the recent Road Freight Association (RFA) conference. “Eskom is also investigating ways in which any economic impact on road transporters and their employees as a result of the migration from road to rail can be mitigated.” He said at present moving coal by rail was still a challenge although significant inroads had been made. Currently only about 12 million tons of the total 120 million tons of coal used per annum moves on rail. At least 40 million tons is moved by road while the rest is moved by conveyor belt. Eskom prefers using conveyor and therefore tries to build its coal-fired power stations as close as possible to mines, said Funyufunyu. “The strategy in place is to move as much coal off road. Rail transportation of coal is a quick and efficient way to convey coal to the power stations, and in the future a minimum amount of the coal requirements will be transported by road, with the bulk on either rail or conveyor.” The strategy is part of Eskom’s recognition of the impact of the heavy traffic on the roads between mines and the power stations and the fact that continuously repairing roads remains a costly exercise. “We are behind in our migration of coal off the road due to various challenges – including that of infrastructure not being in place – and so the target of moving 30 million tons of coal off road by 2020 will not be achieved,” he said. “It will take slightly longer than envisioned but ultimately this goal will be achieved.” INSERT & CAPTION We are behind in our migration of coal off the road and so the target of 30 million tons by 2020 will not be achieved. – Edward Funyufunyu