Maputo corridor gets the nod for Botswana coal

A trial run that saw the export of coal from Botswana via the Maputo corridor has come up trumps. It’s the first time that coal from Botswana has been exported to overseas markets and it proved conclusively that bulk export of coal from the landlocked Botswana was feasible via Zimbabwe onto the Maputo Corridor. According to Charles Siwawa, CEO of the Botswana Chamber of Mines, the 34-wagon train loaded with 1600 tons of coal took three days to cover the 1300km from Francistown in Botswana via Bulawayo in Zimbabwe to Maputo in Mozambique. The trial was sponsored by African Energy Resources, Morupule Coal Mine in Botswana, Vitol Coal South Africa and Grindrod Mozambique. Siwawa said it also provided invaluable technical information on the operation of rail services, useful not only to the Chamber of Mines, but also the other parties involved. A spokesman for African Energy Resources agreed, saying the information gathered would be used as part of its feasibility study into coal exports from Botswana, which is due to be discussed with the Botswana government and other parties in early 2013. “Of significance is that for much of the overall route the train was able to meet or exceed the anticipated operating speed of 50kph, indicating that with appropriate maintenance budgets from increased traffic volumes, significant improvements in turnaround time will be possible,” said the spokesman. According to Siwawa, Botswana Railways at the Francistown station undertook the assembly of the 400m-long train. “A crew and locomotive took the train to the Zimbabwean border where it was handed over to the National Railways of Zimbabwe who took it to Chicualacuala in Mozambique where Caminhos de Ferro de Mocambique (CFR) received it for the final leg through Mozambique to the Matola coal terminal in Maputo.” According to Grindrod Mozambique, the coal was unloaded and stockpiled. It will now be sold before being loaded into bulk carriers at the terminal as part of routine coal export operations. “We are extremely happy with the outcome of this trial run,” said Siwawa. “It bodes well for future exports and gives us a viable option to consider in our deliberations to find the best export route for the country’s coal.” INSERT ‘For much of the overall route the train was able to meet or exceed the anticipated operating speed of 50kph.’ CAPTION Coal from Botswana ... transported to overseas markets for the first time.