High-value cargo switches back to rail

The transport of high-value
copper concentrate, anodes
and blisters has been shifted
from road to rail for both security
reasons and because the rail links
have improved, says Chris Chipimo,
operations director of Bridge
Shipping in Ndola.
“Around 80% of exports of copper
now go by rail – either containerised
or in covered wagons,” he says. This
is a 180 degree shift, as previously
about 80% of the cargo travelled by
road.
Rail through to Richards Bay,
Durban and Dar es Salaam “has
become very competitive,” he says.
Cargo shipped from the mines in
Zambia and the Democratic Republic
of Congo in open rail wagons is
transhipped from open to covered
wagons and containers at the secure
Bridge Shipping yard in Ndola. In
addition to the standard 24-hour
armed security, the compound also
houses police quarters.
Bridge Shipping is also one of
the companies helping to start up
the export of manganese from the
Copperbelt via road and rail.
Because manganese ore has
relatively low value, it is not a target
for theft, and many truckers prefer
to carry it, says Chipimo. However,
because it is a low-cost commodity,
there is extreme pressure on the
costs of transporting the manganese.
Until the world price rises, the
region is not expected to become a
major supplier of manganese as it
cannot compete against mines which
have more cost-effective links to the
sea.
Bridge Shipping Zambia does not
just limit itself to the precincts of the
Copperbelt.
Bridge Shipping Lusaka
is tremendously active with
agricultural movements of
commodities such as tobacco,
sugar, soya beans and wheat, says
Chipimo.
To complete this logistical
chain, Bridge Shipping also offers
a complete service whether by
air, sea or road freight and has a
specialised over-border department
for northbound cargoes to ensure
that the road freight rates are kept to
exceptionally competitive marketrelated
prices, he added.