Eskom commits to rail migration strategy

Eskom is committed to
reducing the movement of its
coal on South Africa’s roads
dramatically in the next five
years.
According to Suzanne
Daniels, the parastatal
currently moves about 33
million tons of coal per
annum by road to supply
some six power stations in
the country.
“We have committed to a
migration strategy that will
see less than six million tons
being moved by road by no
later than 2018.”
Speaking at the Transport
Forum in Johannesburg
last week, Daniels said it
was extremely important
for Eskom to move to a
rail programme. “Some
1100 trips are undertaken
every day by a fleet of 1086
trucks. We plan to reduce the
number of trucks to around
600 as the majority of coal
must be on rail by 2018.”
She said in October the
Camden power station in
Mpumalanga, which has
exclusively been receiving
coal by road, saw its first
train load arrive proving
that the strategy was not just
on track but that the power
utility had committed to the
project.
“We have involved
Transnet Freight Rail
extensively in this
programme. The Treasury
has committed money to the
migration programme on
condition that Eskom and
TFR sign a formal agreement
that will see the migration
strategy successfully
implemented.”
Daniels said the longterm
strategy to address
the movement of coal to
power stations in the country
was first approved in 2008
when it was identified that
rail would be the solution.
Since then the Road to Rail
Migration Strategy has been
drawn up. This document
highlights exactly how
Eskom plans to reduce the
movement of 33 million tons
of coal to some 6 million per
year.
“We know that we have
some challenges to still
overcome and that it will take
time, but this is no longer a
choice. If we continue to use
road the cost will just be too
high to sustain.”
She said with poor road
infrastructure the coal
haulage network of some
1400km of road is in need
of upgrading. “Should a
damaged road be left for five
years or longer it costs some
18 times more to repair it.
The decision to use rail really
comes down to the fact that
it costs more to move by road
and therefore costs more to
produce power and therefore
the consumer pays more for
electricity.”
She said road transporters
were very much involved in
the programme along with
all the affected communities
in an effort to ensure that
people are ready for the move
when it comes and not caught
off guard and left without
employment or an income.