RB gets integrated coal export service

The signing of a four-way
memorandum of agreement has
seen the creation of an integrated
coal export service in Richards Bay.
The joint venture between the coal
terminal, RBT Grindrod Terminals
(RBTG), Transnet Freight Rail
(TFR) and Transnet Port Terminals
(TPT) will provide one point of
contact for customers through TFR,
offering a competitive integrated
tariff structure, according to Bongani
Biyela, chairman of RBTG.
In terms of the agreement, TFR
will continue to provide regular
trains into the terminal. RBTG will
handle the cargo in the terminal –
including cargo flow management,
stock piling and loading the coal onto
the conveyor – while TPT will load
the coal onto vessels.
“The competitive integrated tariff
structure supports our customers
in a time of a depressed commodity
cycle,” said Biyela.
A joint venture between RBT
Resources and the Grindrod
Navitrade operation, RBTG has
capacity to handle 3.5 million tonnes
of coal per annum. The terminal’s
capacity is currently being expanded
to 4. 5 million tpa and will eventually
be expanded to a capacity of 20
million. The tippler has already been
upgraded to handle
4.5 million tpa.
Bongiwe Ntuli, CEO Grindrod
Freight Services, said this was a
wonderful example of private sector
participation.
The integrated service offering
became effective earlier this year and
it’s expected that most RBTG coal
customers in Richards Bay will be
coming on board in June 2016.