Rail can unlock bulk export opportunities – Gama

Making a case for roadto- rail conversion at the African Renaissance conference in Durban recently was Siyabonga Gama, CEO of Transnet Freight Rail (TFR). While he focused as always on the benefits of a reduced number of trucks on roads and reduced CO2 emissions, he also pushed the rail option for the costefficient transport of bulk commodities. “SA continues to be a net exporter of unbeneficiated minerals,” he said, “with demand for commodities driven largely by the industrialisation in India and China.” With the department of mineral resources having issued mining rights – largely for iron ore, manganese and coal mining – in mineral rich parts of the country, Gama stressed that investments in rail infrastructure and rolling stock would unlock opportunities for these mines to export commodities. “Large distances between mines and ports,” he said, “place rail at a competitive advantage to exploit economic liberalisation potential. “Our port facilities are well poised to accept rail as a key bulk logistics provider rather than road.”