Saldanha manganese exports ‘out of the picture’

Manganese exports are to
be routed through the port
of Ngqura – with the first
shipments expected in
2016, Transnet CEO Brian
Molefe told a business
breakfast in Port Elizabeth
recently.
The decision puts an
end to years of behindthe-
scenes lobbying by
major mining groups
and others to rail the
manganese from the
Northern Cape through
Saldanha Bay rather
than the current routing
through Port Elizabeth.
“We are going to start
strengthening the main
line from the Northern
Cape for the manganese
exports,” he said.
Rail capacity would
increase from 100 000
tons a year to 400 000
tons, with trains going
from 40 wagons to 100
wagons.
Ore would be stockpiled
in the Coega Industrial
Development Zone, and
Transnet National Ports
Authority CEO Tau
Morwe said a new bulk
terminal would be built
in the port of Ngqura – a
development which was
part of the original plans
for the port, which will
see it dug out further up
the Coega river towards
the N2.
Speaking in response to
a question on the terminal,
Morwe said new breakbulk
and bulk liquids
terminals at Ngqura had
been “factored into the
budget. We will be going
up the river sooner rather
than later”.