Expansion of Richards Bay coal terminal gets the green light

Capacity to increase by 10mt a year Leonard Neill PLANS FOR the start-up of Richards Bay Coal Terminal Phase V development are ‘on track’ and construction work should begin in the course of the next two or three months, says terminal managing director Trevor Stevens. “We are tying up loose ends in the agreement between the main role players right now, and everything is going well,” he said His statement has ended months of speculation on the future of the R700 million project which was under a cloud at the end of last year because the existing terminal did not meet export targets. The first half of 2002 fell well short of throughput plans, giving the impression that by year’s end the terminal would not meet its export target of 68 million tons for the year. This placed a dampener on the Phase V development plan, but the situation improved during November and December when there was a surge of activity. By the end of the year 66,05 million tons had been recorded for the 12 month period. “The first half of the year was dismal but this can be attributed to market conditions,” says Stevens. “There was an oversupply to the northern hemisphere from other countries and export demands from South Africa were affected accordingly. It’s a seasonal thing over which we have no control. But the improved figures in the closing stages of the year satisfied both Spoornet and the National Ports Authority, and we are now going ahead with plans to expand. “Environmental issues have been sorted out and the lease extensions and the building of the quay are well in hand.”