Too much copper, too few trucks

PROFESSIONAL Consolidators – also
known as Pro-Con – has recently
moved to bigger premises in Lusaka
to accommodate the expansion in its
freight forwarding business.
Set up in 1991 with the specific
objective of providing an efficient and
reliable transport and consolidation
service by road to sub-Saharan Africa,
the company focuses largely on copper
concentrate and cathodes with a
small amount of seasonal agricultural
produce being moved if and when it
is available.
According to general manager
Piet La Grange, the market in Zambia
has increased dramatically with the
targeted copper exports to reach
1 million tons in 2008. It is predicted
that the figure will reach 2.4 million
tons in the next two to three years. An
overview of production figures shows
that mines are geared for increased
production.
There simply isn’t enough capacity
to handle the volume of copper
exports at present. To move 1 million
tons require the use of 33 000 trucks
per month and even if rail was on track,
it could only move 40% of the volume
at best.
Pro-Con has branches in Kitwe,
Lusaka, Harare, Bulawayo, Beitbridge,
Musina, Johannesburg and Durban and
has access to 240 trucks and trailer
combinations through Colbro Transport,
Fourway Haulage and other approved
sub-contractors.