RBCT gets go ahead
THE R1,2-billion Phase V Expansion
Project at the Richards Bay Coal Terminal
has been approved by the directors and
shareholders.
The terminal will expand from its current
annual throughput capacity of 72 million
tons to 91 million tons per annum.
As part of the Phase V expansion project:
• special provision has been made to
encourage a new generation of coal exporters
by earmarking four million tons per annum
for emerging BEE exporters
•· South Dunes Coal Terminal, which will be
a two thirds BEE-controlled company, will
take up six million tons per annum of the
expansion
• nine million tons per annum of the
expansion capacity will be open for tender
with an emphasis on empowerment to
facilitate the transformation of the South
African coal export industry.
The scope of the project has been reduced
(from 92 million tons to 91 million tons per
annum) in order to commence the expansion to
meet the short to medium term export
capacity requirements.
Future plans
Further expansions beyond 91 million tons
per annum to meet long term demand will be
dependent on the conclusion of negotiations
with the National Ports Authority for the
additional land required together with
environmental impact assessment approval.
RBCT has appointed Alexander Forbes as the
independent adjudicator for the tender
process which will commence in September.
The expansion is expected to be completed by
the end of the first half of 2009.
A significant part of the goods and services
required by the project is intended to be
sourced from local suppliers with
preferential BEE procurement.
During the construction period 3 500 jobs
will be created with further sustainable job
creation being realised through anticipated
developments in the coal mining industry.
‘This project maintains RBCT’s position as
the single largest export coal terminal in
the world, an important consideration given
that RBCT is the second largest foreign
income generator for South Africa,’ said
RBCT Chairman, Kuseni Dlamini.
