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.