Ramos spells out Transnet’s successes … and maps a growth strategy going forward

TRANSNET HAS come a long way on its transformation journey. It’s stopped the bleeding
and stabilised the core and for the first time in a decade and a half it’s actually growing.
The mission now is to optimise that growth and
expand its competitive advantage.
That was the message from group CEO Maria
Ramos at a media briefing in Johannesburg recently. “Our overall vision
is to offer a world-class transport solution,” she said. And she believes that the
fundamentals are in place to realise this vision.
“We’ve had an experienced executive in place for more than three years, which is a
record for the company.
“In addition volume growth tells a positive story,” she said.
“At the Durban Container Terminal we handled 1.8m
teus in the 05/06 financial year. In the financial year just ended we will have handled
2.1m teus – a significant increase.”
Productivity figures are also encouraging.
Crane moves per hour comparing 05/06 to January
08 registered a 28% improvement – from 17.6 to
22.5 For Transnet Freight Rail there’s been a big
improvement in availability and reliability of wagons and locomotives, she added, with
a 6% increase in locomotive availability for General Freight Business as an example.
Ramos believes that the greatest opportunity to
increase rail and port’s share of the business is through integration – that’s been the
strategy for the past four years and will continue into the future.