Joint SA/Botswana effort critical to unlock Waterberg coal

Working together
countries can
achieve far more
when it comes
to transport infrastructure –
ultimately boosting cross-border
trade.
The unlocking of the Waterberg
is a case in point.
Mining experts have
maintained that to unlock
the coal in the Waterberg it
is imperative that the railway
network be developed but also in
Botswana.
Stakeholders in the process
have said that extracting
resources to best advantage
requires investment in
infrastructure not only by South
Africa but also Botswana. A
railway line linking Botswana
to the port of Richards Bay has
been part of the discussion.
According to Ravi Nair,
acting chief executive of
Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) – a
major player in the Waterberg
development which forms the
basis of Strategic Integrated
Project 1 (Sip1) – the current
global economic and financial
meltdown has meant that
Transnet has had to review
its capital spend to align with
current customer and market
conditions.
As part of the National
Development Plan, the Sips
are aimed at fast tracking
development in South Africa.
Sip 1 focuses on unlocking the
northern mineral belt with the
Waterberg and includes major
investment in rail, creating
a dynamic shift from road
to rail in Mpumalanga. The
development of a railway to
Botswana, also home to large
coal deposits, enhances crossborder
commodity movement
significantly.
“Development of the
Waterberg feeder rail system
to accommodate demand for
domestic and export coal as well
as iron-ore, granite and other
general freight originating from
the Waterberg and Rustenburg
area is progressing,” said
Nair. “The Waterberg stage 2
construction to unlock a further
4mt from the current 2.6mt is
expected to commence in April
2017 in alignment with mining
developments in the area.”