Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has announced that it is providing additional capacity for the export of manganese through the extension of the current Mamathwane crossing loop in the Northern Cape.
TFR said in a statement that the development had the potential of additional revenue and an estimated R4.4 billion in foreign earnings for the South African economy.
“The extension of the current loop, which is scheduled for completion at the end of July 2023, aims to improve efficiencies, and translates to a potential 1.5 million tonnes of additional capacity,” TFR said.
“The construction of the loop will capacitate export efficiency in both the Cape and ore corridors. TFR is encouraged by this new development as a significant step towards creating additional capacity.”
It said the longer-term expansion project would increase manganese volumes from 16m to 22m tonnes by 2027/28.
“The loop extension will ensure maximum slot usage on the line between Sishen and Hotazel, enabling the movement of additional trains in this constrained section,” TFR added. As things stand, the rail utility runs 104 wagon trains to Port Elizabeth and 125 wagon trains to Saldanha. The loop extension will result in an increase of an estimated four trains per week.
The bottleneck in the rail network from the Manganese Basin in Hotazel in the Northern Cape to Port Elizabeth, or Saldanha, is the line between Hotazel and Sishen.
“This section of the line is currently maxed out in terms of the number of slots that TFR can enable. Extending this loop will enable a sizeable number of slots in addition to the current capacity in the constraining section between Sishen and Hotazel,” TFR said.
The rail utility has been engaging with industry players on a regular basis to explore areas of collaboration to either improve efficiencies or create new capacities.
“Outside of this project, TFR is embarking on several other capacity-creation projects in partnership with key industry players.”
