A trial run that saw the export
of coal from Botswana via
the Maputo corridor has
come up trumps.
It’s the first time that coal from
Botswana has been exported to
overseas markets and it proved
conclusively that bulk export
of coal from the landlocked
Botswana was feasible via
Zimbabwe onto the Maputo
Corridor.
According to Charles Siwawa,
CEO of the Botswana Chamber
of Mines, the 34-wagon train
loaded with 1600 tons of coal took
three days to cover the 1300km
from Francistown in Botswana
via Bulawayo in Zimbabwe to
Maputo in Mozambique.
The trial was sponsored by
African Energy Resources,
Morupule Coal Mine in Botswana,
Vitol Coal South Africa and
Grindrod Mozambique.
Siwawa said it also provided
invaluable technical information
on the operation of rail services,
useful not only to the Chamber of
Mines, but also the other parties
involved.
A spokesman for African
Energy Resources agreed, saying
the information gathered would be
used as part of its feasibility study
into coal exports from Botswana,
which is due to be discussed with
the Botswana government and
other parties in early 2013.
“Of significance is that for
much of the overall route the
train was able to meet or exceed
the anticipated operating speed
of 50kph, indicating that with
appropriate maintenance budgets
from increased traffic volumes,
significant improvements in
turnaround time will be possible,”
said the spokesman.
According to Siwawa,
Botswana Railways at the
Francistown station undertook the
assembly of the 400m-long train.
“A crew and locomotive took the
train to the Zimbabwean border
where it was handed over to the
National Railways of Zimbabwe
who took it to Chicualacuala in
Mozambique where Caminhos
de Ferro de Mocambique (CFR)
received it for the final leg through
Mozambique to the Matola coal
terminal in Maputo.”
According to Grindrod
Mozambique, the coal was
unloaded and stockpiled. It will
now be sold before being loaded
into bulk carriers at the terminal
as part of routine coal export
operations.
“We are extremely happy with
the outcome of this trial run,”
said Siwawa. “It bodes well for
future exports and gives us a
viable option to consider in our
deliberations to find the best
export route for the country’s
coal.”
INSERT
‘For much of the
overall route the train
was able to meet or
exceed the anticipated
operating speed of
50kph.’
CAPTION
Coal from Botswana ... transported to overseas markets for the first time.
