The Saldanha Iron Ore Terminal has completed a R4bn project to install a new heavy-duty tippler and supporting infrastructure, such as bridges and gantry cranes, at South Africa’s main iron-ore export terminal.
The capital investment forms part of Transnet’s Reinvent for Growth strategy, which includes the replacement of ageing equipment across its port terminals to increase export capacity, Transnet Port Terminals said.
The project included a new Eskom substation, a 1.7km conveyor belt system, heavy-haul rail infrastructure, road bridges, conveyor tunnels, gantry cranes, dust-management systems, high-mast lighting, fibre-optic and control-system integration, and power infrastructure.
It also incorporates dust-management systems and environmental mitigation measures in line with the terminal’s efforts to manage the environmental impact of iron-ore handling activities, the port operator said.
Testing and commissioning of the heavy-duty machinery started on Wednesday and are expected to be completed within the next two months.
The tippler is expected to be handed over to operations in September.
Since exporting its first shipment of iron ore in 1976, the Saldanha Iron Ore Terminal has handled about 96% of South Africa’s iron-ore exports, with total throughput estimated at 1.3 billion tonnes.
“As we celebrate 50 years of the Saldanha Iron Ore Terminal, it is fitting that we do so while advancing one of the most significant infrastructure investments undertaken at the terminal and positioning this strategic export corridor for the future,” said TPT chief executive, Jabu Mdaki.
