Tuesday, 28 Feb 2012
Coal export prices at South Africa’s Richards Bay, the continent’s biggest terminal for shipping the fuel, rose for a second week.
According to IHS McCloskey data on Bloomberg, prices added USD 1.27 or 1.2% to USD 106.11 a metric tonne in the week ended February 24. That’s the highest level since January 27.
The price is quoted on a free-on-board basis, which excludes delivery costs.
(Sourced from Bloomberg)
Showing posts with label Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT). Show all posts
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
RBCT coal terminal expansion to 100 million tonne likely
Saturday, 25 Feb 2012
Major South African coal producers that own shares in the Richards Bay Coal Terminal may invest to expand the terminal to handle up to 100 million tonnes of coal a year.
Mr Mxolisi Mgojo head of Exxaro's coal unit said that coal miners had been surprised by the improved rate at which logistics group Transnet transported their coal via rail to the port in the second half of last year.
While Transnet's volumes are still below the terminal's annual capacity of 91 million tonnes, the transport group has been quickly catching up.
Mr Mgojo said that "The pressure is back on us as RBCT shareholders to say, beyond 91 million tonnes what can we do? We need to get to at least 100 million tonnes.” He said the expansion would depend on the timing of Transnet's upgrades on the coal export line.
For years miners had blamed Transnet for failing to improve much-needed infrastructure, but the group has put money into new wagons and locomotives and plans to build a line via Swaziland, which would ease congestion on the main coal export line and raise capacity to close to 100 million tonnes.
Exxaro, South Africa's second-largest coal producer and a big supplier to power utility Eskom, exported 4.9 million tonnes of coal last year and expects to ship 5 million in 2012.
Mr Mgojo said there was more focus than ever on developing the Waterberg coal fields, seen as the next major coal hub as reserves in the Witbank area near depletion.
This is after the government highlighted the project as one of its economic priorities along with the need to secure coal supplies for South African power plants, now supplying 85% of the electricity powering Africa's biggest economy.
Exxaro also said it planned to more than double its capital expansion this year to ZAR 10.93 billion (USD 1.4 billion) as it seeks to diversify into other commodities such as iron ore.
(Sourced from Reuters)
Major South African coal producers that own shares in the Richards Bay Coal Terminal may invest to expand the terminal to handle up to 100 million tonnes of coal a year.
Mr Mxolisi Mgojo head of Exxaro's coal unit said that coal miners had been surprised by the improved rate at which logistics group Transnet transported their coal via rail to the port in the second half of last year.
While Transnet's volumes are still below the terminal's annual capacity of 91 million tonnes, the transport group has been quickly catching up.
Mr Mgojo said that "The pressure is back on us as RBCT shareholders to say, beyond 91 million tonnes what can we do? We need to get to at least 100 million tonnes.” He said the expansion would depend on the timing of Transnet's upgrades on the coal export line.
For years miners had blamed Transnet for failing to improve much-needed infrastructure, but the group has put money into new wagons and locomotives and plans to build a line via Swaziland, which would ease congestion on the main coal export line and raise capacity to close to 100 million tonnes.
Exxaro, South Africa's second-largest coal producer and a big supplier to power utility Eskom, exported 4.9 million tonnes of coal last year and expects to ship 5 million in 2012.
Mr Mgojo said there was more focus than ever on developing the Waterberg coal fields, seen as the next major coal hub as reserves in the Witbank area near depletion.
This is after the government highlighted the project as one of its economic priorities along with the need to secure coal supplies for South African power plants, now supplying 85% of the electricity powering Africa's biggest economy.
Exxaro also said it planned to more than double its capital expansion this year to ZAR 10.93 billion (USD 1.4 billion) as it seeks to diversify into other commodities such as iron ore.
(Sourced from Reuters)
Monday, February 13, 2012
Mozambique's Maputo hot spot for South African coal
Monday, 13 February 2012
Mozambique capital Maputo is hotting up as a magnet for companies aspiring to be significant South African coal exporters, following a Vitol joint venture deal, industry sources said this week.
The port has been used on a small scale for coal exports which shippers were unable to move from the main export hub, Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT), but is now the centre of major expansion plans for South African coal.
Two exporters have in the last few months started using the main Maputo harbour, which has no loading equipment, for the first time and gleaming new fencing has been set up around stockpiles there, a recent visitor to the port said. A handful of mining majors own RBCT, by far the cheapest, most efficient port, but new entrants have mostly failed to gain a foothold there.
"If you want to be producing South African coal for export, don't ever think you are going to get into Richards Bay - Maputo is really the only option," an executive involved in South African projects said.
Would-be entrants already see Glencore well established. At Maputo it accounts for a third of the 3 million tonnes a year of exports and is also using the main harbour which has no loading equipment.
This deadlock has been frustrating for rival, large trading firms wanting to catch up with Glencore's roughly 20 year head start in building an integrated global coal business including investments in mines and ports and myriad offtake agreements.
"Glencore were in Matola (Maputo's inland coal terminal) from the start, to see how significant or useful an export point it was, with the ability to back out at any time," said an industry source recently returned from Maputo."Vitol seems to want to move into the Glencore space (by investing in ports and production)," a veteran South African industry source said.
"This is a great deal for Vitol, it gives them an export outlet for thermal, coking and sized coal and from the Waterberg too, eventually," another industry source said.If Glencore completes its purchase of Optimum Coal Holdings with its empowerment partner, entrepreneur Cyril Ramaphosa, it will be the country's fourth-largest exporter after Anglo American, and own a big chunk of highly-desirable Richards Bay export capacity.Although currently high, Maputo's costs will fall when the port is expanded substantially and rail investment allows more coal to be railed rather than trucked.
"RBCT offers huge savings - $2-3 a tonne to shareholders, $5 for Quattro junior miners but that's a fraction of the $15-20 charged by Richards Bay Dry Bulk Terminal or $9-10 at Maputo," said the recently returned official. Vitol has a coal offtake agreement with producer Coal Of Africa and is expected to make export space for COA as it ramps up production.
But there will be no shortage of takers for Maputo's capacity, even after the planned expansion, because the 50,000 tonne ships loaded at Matola are ideal for the growing Indian market, an industry source said.
"There are two users of the main harbour, Glencore for sized coal and Jupiter Trading, while Glencore is using the inland Matola terminal for thermal coal," he said.Coal from the main harbour stockpiles is loaded into builders' skips which are tipped into waiting vessels, he said.
This method is costly and slow but the high price of sized coal used for domestic fuel gives a fat profit margin, he said."With their (Glencore's) optimum capacity they can use RBCT primarily for thermal exports and the smaller, higher cost ports for high value products, they don't need Maputo," he added.
TRANSNET SAVES THE DAY
More such strategic investment opportunities are likely to emerge in the next year or so primarily because South Africa's state-owned Transnet Freight Rail has gone from zero to hero in six months to consistently move more coal than miners ever thought possible.
After years of complaining about TFR's poor performance, miners are having to start considering boosting output.
Until June last year, TFR's poor past performance had for several years capped exports at around 65 million tonnes a year despite a capacity of over 80 million and plans to rise to over 90 million tonnes.
"Now the shoe's on the other foot and they're (TFR) getting it right. If they can sustain it, producers will eventually bring on more mining capacity," a producer source said.
"It's a 2-3 year process to make a decision and another 4-5 years to put it into place but it's just so difficult to decide to invest when there are so many uncertainties," he added.RBCT shareholders' export entitlement equates to the stakes they own in the terminal - a 20 percent stake would give 20 percent of whatever total tonnage can be exported and that in turn depends on what TFR can move. While TFR was struggling, RBCT shareholders' ability to export was constrained and they held tightly to their export capacity rather than be tempted to sell or lease it.
But if TFR keeps up its current pace and before miners invest in new mines, RBCT shareholders with more export capacity than production may revisit leasing."It's quite possible that it reverts to the situation several years ago when some RBCT shareholders leased what they couldn't fill with their own output or buy from smaller miners Free On Rail but there's hardly anything available like that now," a transport and logistics source said.
Source: Reuters
Mozambique capital Maputo is hotting up as a magnet for companies aspiring to be significant South African coal exporters, following a Vitol joint venture deal, industry sources said this week.
The port has been used on a small scale for coal exports which shippers were unable to move from the main export hub, Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT), but is now the centre of major expansion plans for South African coal.
Two exporters have in the last few months started using the main Maputo harbour, which has no loading equipment, for the first time and gleaming new fencing has been set up around stockpiles there, a recent visitor to the port said. A handful of mining majors own RBCT, by far the cheapest, most efficient port, but new entrants have mostly failed to gain a foothold there.
"If you want to be producing South African coal for export, don't ever think you are going to get into Richards Bay - Maputo is really the only option," an executive involved in South African projects said.
Would-be entrants already see Glencore well established. At Maputo it accounts for a third of the 3 million tonnes a year of exports and is also using the main harbour which has no loading equipment.
This deadlock has been frustrating for rival, large trading firms wanting to catch up with Glencore's roughly 20 year head start in building an integrated global coal business including investments in mines and ports and myriad offtake agreements.
"Glencore were in Matola (Maputo's inland coal terminal) from the start, to see how significant or useful an export point it was, with the ability to back out at any time," said an industry source recently returned from Maputo."Vitol seems to want to move into the Glencore space (by investing in ports and production)," a veteran South African industry source said.
"This is a great deal for Vitol, it gives them an export outlet for thermal, coking and sized coal and from the Waterberg too, eventually," another industry source said.If Glencore completes its purchase of Optimum Coal Holdings with its empowerment partner, entrepreneur Cyril Ramaphosa, it will be the country's fourth-largest exporter after Anglo American, and own a big chunk of highly-desirable Richards Bay export capacity.Although currently high, Maputo's costs will fall when the port is expanded substantially and rail investment allows more coal to be railed rather than trucked.
"RBCT offers huge savings - $2-3 a tonne to shareholders, $5 for Quattro junior miners but that's a fraction of the $15-20 charged by Richards Bay Dry Bulk Terminal or $9-10 at Maputo," said the recently returned official. Vitol has a coal offtake agreement with producer Coal Of Africa and is expected to make export space for COA as it ramps up production.
But there will be no shortage of takers for Maputo's capacity, even after the planned expansion, because the 50,000 tonne ships loaded at Matola are ideal for the growing Indian market, an industry source said.
"There are two users of the main harbour, Glencore for sized coal and Jupiter Trading, while Glencore is using the inland Matola terminal for thermal coal," he said.Coal from the main harbour stockpiles is loaded into builders' skips which are tipped into waiting vessels, he said.
This method is costly and slow but the high price of sized coal used for domestic fuel gives a fat profit margin, he said."With their (Glencore's) optimum capacity they can use RBCT primarily for thermal exports and the smaller, higher cost ports for high value products, they don't need Maputo," he added.
TRANSNET SAVES THE DAY
More such strategic investment opportunities are likely to emerge in the next year or so primarily because South Africa's state-owned Transnet Freight Rail has gone from zero to hero in six months to consistently move more coal than miners ever thought possible.
After years of complaining about TFR's poor performance, miners are having to start considering boosting output.
Until June last year, TFR's poor past performance had for several years capped exports at around 65 million tonnes a year despite a capacity of over 80 million and plans to rise to over 90 million tonnes.
"Now the shoe's on the other foot and they're (TFR) getting it right. If they can sustain it, producers will eventually bring on more mining capacity," a producer source said.
"It's a 2-3 year process to make a decision and another 4-5 years to put it into place but it's just so difficult to decide to invest when there are so many uncertainties," he added.RBCT shareholders' export entitlement equates to the stakes they own in the terminal - a 20 percent stake would give 20 percent of whatever total tonnage can be exported and that in turn depends on what TFR can move. While TFR was struggling, RBCT shareholders' ability to export was constrained and they held tightly to their export capacity rather than be tempted to sell or lease it.
But if TFR keeps up its current pace and before miners invest in new mines, RBCT shareholders with more export capacity than production may revisit leasing."It's quite possible that it reverts to the situation several years ago when some RBCT shareholders leased what they couldn't fill with their own output or buy from smaller miners Free On Rail but there's hardly anything available like that now," a transport and logistics source said.
Source: Reuters
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Transnet achieves turnaround in coal delivery to RBCT
Tuesday, 11 Oct 2011
It is reported that Transnet Freight Rail has finally gotten its act together and is consistently railing coal at monthly levels greater than the terminal is actually shipping it out.
Reporting this development, Miningmx says latest statistics from the Richards Bay Coal Terminal show that the turn around started in July when TFR railed 5.7 million tonnes of coal to the RBCT compared with a monthly average of 4.8 million tonnes during the preceding 6 month period to the end of June.
Since then TFR has kept up the pace railing 6.6 million tonnes in August and 6.2 million tonnes during September. A total of 18.5Mt of coal was railed to the RBCT in the three months to the end of September, compared with a total of 16.29 million tonnes that was actually loaded on bulk carriers and shipped out by the terminal.
Miningmx said the impact of TFR’s improved performance on the outlook for total South African coal exports this year is dramatic. At the end of June, TFR had railed a total of 28.9 million tonnes to the RBCT which gave an annualised target for calendar 2011 of 58 million tonnes while the terminal had exported only 27.5 million tonnes for an annualised target of 55 million tonnes.
In 2010, exports amounted to 63.4 million tonnes on par with levels achieved in 1999 when the RBCT only had the capacity to shift 72 million tonnes annually. Current capacity is 91 million tonne. For the three months to end-September TFR has moved coal at an annualised rate of 74 million tonnes while the terminal has exported it at an annualized rate of 65 million tonnes.
(sourced from miningreview)
It is reported that Transnet Freight Rail has finally gotten its act together and is consistently railing coal at monthly levels greater than the terminal is actually shipping it out.
Reporting this development, Miningmx says latest statistics from the Richards Bay Coal Terminal show that the turn around started in July when TFR railed 5.7 million tonnes of coal to the RBCT compared with a monthly average of 4.8 million tonnes during the preceding 6 month period to the end of June.
Since then TFR has kept up the pace railing 6.6 million tonnes in August and 6.2 million tonnes during September. A total of 18.5Mt of coal was railed to the RBCT in the three months to the end of September, compared with a total of 16.29 million tonnes that was actually loaded on bulk carriers and shipped out by the terminal.
Miningmx said the impact of TFR’s improved performance on the outlook for total South African coal exports this year is dramatic. At the end of June, TFR had railed a total of 28.9 million tonnes to the RBCT which gave an annualised target for calendar 2011 of 58 million tonnes while the terminal had exported only 27.5 million tonnes for an annualised target of 55 million tonnes.
In 2010, exports amounted to 63.4 million tonnes on par with levels achieved in 1999 when the RBCT only had the capacity to shift 72 million tonnes annually. Current capacity is 91 million tonne. For the three months to end-September TFR has moved coal at an annualised rate of 74 million tonnes while the terminal has exported it at an annualized rate of 65 million tonnes.
(sourced from miningreview)
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Transnet eying 80 million tonnes on Waterberg coal line
Saturday, 08 Oct 2011
According to the head of the freight rail unit at logistics group Transnet, a planned rail link to the Waterberg coal fields could eventually handle up to 80 million tonnes of coal a year if there is enough demand.
The Waterberg area in the northern Limpopo province is expected to become the country next coal hub as reserves in the Witbank area near depletion.
Coal producers have been slow to build new mines in Waterberg because of a lack of infrastructure linking it with export terminals on the coast, but Mr Siyabonga Gama CEO of Transnet Freight Rail said the rail project was on.
He said that "For all intents and purposes, that project is going ahead, adding that the line would be expanded in phases. The idea is that the Waterberg line will be a heavy haul line. We have a plan that will see the Waterberg line going to about 80 million tonnes if there was demand."
The capacity of an existing rail line in the area is limited to around 4 million tonnes per year. Mr Gama said a feasibility study on the expansion of the line will be completed by April and will determine the exact dates and costs of the project.
The 464 kilometers line would connect with an existing line at Ermelo in Witbank which already links to the main coal export terminal at Richards Bay. Including wagons, rolling stock and other necessary infrastructure, cost estimates for the line are around R37bn.
Mr Gama said the main Witbank rail line to the Richards Bay Coal Terminal might also be expanded beyond the 81 million tonnes Transnet is hoping to reach by 2015. The company managed to carry only 63 million tonnes to RBCT last year.
He said that "We intend to go to 97 million tonnes, and studies indicate we could even go to about 120 million tonnes of coal being handled on that line, although there were no firm timelines yet for that target.”
He added that "Over the next 12 years the rail system will need between R350bn and R400bn of investment. He also said if we could get 30% of that investment from the private sector and that would be good progress."
The lines have suffered from decades of underinvestment, but recent improvements have been paying off. Mr Gama said the firm should be able to meet miners demands within three to four years. He said that Transnet currently transports coal at a record rate of 1.65 million tonnes a week and should meet its target of carrying 70 million tonnes of coal in this financial year.
Mr Gama said a plan for how private players can participate in infrastructure would be completed by early next year. He added that while the private sector could invest in wagons, the running of lines would remain in state hands and dismissed arguments that South Africa should emulate countries where private players own and run part of the railway network.
He also said "You have to run them (the railway lines) as an integrated and a holistic network to realize the benefits of efficiencies and the benefits of investments, adding that so far concrete commitments from private investors have been limited.”
He added that "A lot of players say that they want to get involved but when we start flashing out the details, the amounts some of them we never see again."
Mr Gama dismissed criticism of Transnet's performance on the line leading to Mozambique port at Maputo and said the firm was ahead of demand on that corridor and would transport 4 million tonnes of coal on that route this financial year more than double what it carried last year.
(sourced from miningmx)
According to the head of the freight rail unit at logistics group Transnet, a planned rail link to the Waterberg coal fields could eventually handle up to 80 million tonnes of coal a year if there is enough demand.
The Waterberg area in the northern Limpopo province is expected to become the country next coal hub as reserves in the Witbank area near depletion.
Coal producers have been slow to build new mines in Waterberg because of a lack of infrastructure linking it with export terminals on the coast, but Mr Siyabonga Gama CEO of Transnet Freight Rail said the rail project was on.
He said that "For all intents and purposes, that project is going ahead, adding that the line would be expanded in phases. The idea is that the Waterberg line will be a heavy haul line. We have a plan that will see the Waterberg line going to about 80 million tonnes if there was demand."
The capacity of an existing rail line in the area is limited to around 4 million tonnes per year. Mr Gama said a feasibility study on the expansion of the line will be completed by April and will determine the exact dates and costs of the project.
The 464 kilometers line would connect with an existing line at Ermelo in Witbank which already links to the main coal export terminal at Richards Bay. Including wagons, rolling stock and other necessary infrastructure, cost estimates for the line are around R37bn.
Mr Gama said the main Witbank rail line to the Richards Bay Coal Terminal might also be expanded beyond the 81 million tonnes Transnet is hoping to reach by 2015. The company managed to carry only 63 million tonnes to RBCT last year.
He said that "We intend to go to 97 million tonnes, and studies indicate we could even go to about 120 million tonnes of coal being handled on that line, although there were no firm timelines yet for that target.”
He added that "Over the next 12 years the rail system will need between R350bn and R400bn of investment. He also said if we could get 30% of that investment from the private sector and that would be good progress."
The lines have suffered from decades of underinvestment, but recent improvements have been paying off. Mr Gama said the firm should be able to meet miners demands within three to four years. He said that Transnet currently transports coal at a record rate of 1.65 million tonnes a week and should meet its target of carrying 70 million tonnes of coal in this financial year.
Mr Gama said a plan for how private players can participate in infrastructure would be completed by early next year. He added that while the private sector could invest in wagons, the running of lines would remain in state hands and dismissed arguments that South Africa should emulate countries where private players own and run part of the railway network.
He also said "You have to run them (the railway lines) as an integrated and a holistic network to realize the benefits of efficiencies and the benefits of investments, adding that so far concrete commitments from private investors have been limited.”
He added that "A lot of players say that they want to get involved but when we start flashing out the details, the amounts some of them we never see again."
Mr Gama dismissed criticism of Transnet's performance on the line leading to Mozambique port at Maputo and said the firm was ahead of demand on that corridor and would transport 4 million tonnes of coal on that route this financial year more than double what it carried last year.
(sourced from miningmx)
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Richards Bay Coal Terminal exports fell by 7pct in Sept
Thursday, 06 Oct 2011
Bloomberg reported that shipments at Richards Bay Coal Terminal, Africa largest export facility for the fuel fell 7.5%last month on weak demand from Europe and Asia.
RBCT said deliveries from the port on South Africa northeast coast dropped to 4.96 million tonnes in September from 5.36 million tons a year earlier.
Mr Bevan Jones at London Commodity Brokers said “It is principally a demand issue. We’re seeing a lot of cargoes available and not many buyers. Producers have to sell at a significant discount and they’re not prepared to do that. European power stations seem to be very well stocked and buyers from India, the main destination for South African thermal coal and China are cautious.”
According to IHS McCloskey data on Bloomberg, prices for coal traded through RBCT declined 1.4% to an average USD 115.77 a ton in September from a month earlier and gained 34.9% from the same period in the previous year.
According to RBCT the port whose owners include BHP Billiton Ltd and Anglo American Plc received 6.25 million tons of coal in the month and had stocks of 5 million tonnes which didn’t give a reason for the drop in September shipments.
It has capacity to export 91 million tons annually.
(Sourced from Bloomberg)
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Bloomberg reported that shipments at Richards Bay Coal Terminal, Africa largest export facility for the fuel fell 7.5%last month on weak demand from Europe and Asia.
RBCT said deliveries from the port on South Africa northeast coast dropped to 4.96 million tonnes in September from 5.36 million tons a year earlier.
Mr Bevan Jones at London Commodity Brokers said “It is principally a demand issue. We’re seeing a lot of cargoes available and not many buyers. Producers have to sell at a significant discount and they’re not prepared to do that. European power stations seem to be very well stocked and buyers from India, the main destination for South African thermal coal and China are cautious.”
According to IHS McCloskey data on Bloomberg, prices for coal traded through RBCT declined 1.4% to an average USD 115.77 a ton in September from a month earlier and gained 34.9% from the same period in the previous year.
According to RBCT the port whose owners include BHP Billiton Ltd and Anglo American Plc received 6.25 million tons of coal in the month and had stocks of 5 million tonnes which didn’t give a reason for the drop in September shipments.
It has capacity to export 91 million tons annually.
(Sourced from Bloomberg)
If you believe an article violates your rights or the rights of others, please contact us.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
S.Africa coal exports fall m/m in Sept to 4.96 mln Ton
Wed Oct 5, 2011
JOHANNESBURG Oct 5 (Reuters) - South Africa's Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) exported 4.96 million tonnes of coal in September compared with 6.987 million tonnes the previous month, RBCT data showed on Wednesday.
South Africa -- a major exporter of coal to power stations in Europe and Asia -- had 4.997 million tonnes of stock at the terminal at the end of September, RBCT said.
Coal producers in South Africa include Anglo American , BHP Billiton , Exxaro , Optimum Coal and Xstrata .
(sourced Reuters)
JOHANNESBURG Oct 5 (Reuters) - South Africa's Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) exported 4.96 million tonnes of coal in September compared with 6.987 million tonnes the previous month, RBCT data showed on Wednesday.
South Africa -- a major exporter of coal to power stations in Europe and Asia -- had 4.997 million tonnes of stock at the terminal at the end of September, RBCT said.
Coal producers in South Africa include Anglo American , BHP Billiton , Exxaro , Optimum Coal and Xstrata .
(sourced Reuters)
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
South African coal export prices down by 1pct last week
Wednesday, 28 Sep 2011
Bloomberg quoted according to data on Bloomberg from researcher IHS McCloskey coal export prices at Richards Bay, South Africa, the continent biggest terminal for shipping the fuel fell USD 1.39 or 1.2% last week to an average USD 114.20 a metric ton.
The spot price declined 1.7% to an average USD 115.59 a ton in the previous week.
(sourced from Bloomberg)
Bloomberg quoted according to data on Bloomberg from researcher IHS McCloskey coal export prices at Richards Bay, South Africa, the continent biggest terminal for shipping the fuel fell USD 1.39 or 1.2% last week to an average USD 114.20 a metric ton.
The spot price declined 1.7% to an average USD 115.59 a ton in the previous week.
(sourced from Bloomberg)
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
S.Africa coal exports rise m/m in Aug to 6.987 mln T
Sep7, 2011
JOHANNESBURG, Sept 6 (Reuters) - South Africa's Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) exported 6.987 million tonnes of coal in August compared with 4.36 million tonnes the previous month, RBCT data showed on Tuesday.
South Africa -- a major exporter of coal to power stations in Europe and Asia -- had 3.996 million tonnes of stock at the terminal at the end of August, RBCT said.
(sourced Reuters)
JOHANNESBURG, Sept 6 (Reuters) - South Africa's Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) exported 6.987 million tonnes of coal in August compared with 4.36 million tonnes the previous month, RBCT data showed on Tuesday.
South Africa -- a major exporter of coal to power stations in Europe and Asia -- had 3.996 million tonnes of stock at the terminal at the end of August, RBCT said.
(sourced Reuters)
Monday, August 15, 2011
South African Coal Export Prices Slip After Three Weekly Gains
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 | By Bloomberg
By Ying Diao
Coal export prices at Richards Bay in South Africa, site of the continent’s biggest terminal for shipping the fuel, fell last week after three weekly gains in a row, according to data on Bloomberg from researcher IHS McCloskey. Prices slipped 79 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $117.53 a metric ton.
By Ying Diao
Coal export prices at Richards Bay in South Africa, site of the continent’s biggest terminal for shipping the fuel, fell last week after three weekly gains in a row, according to data on Bloomberg from researcher IHS McCloskey. Prices slipped 79 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $117.53 a metric ton.
Monday, August 8, 2011
India’s Coal Imports From South Africa Fall, mjunction Says
August 08, 2011
By Dinakar Sethuraman
Aug. 8 (Bloomberg) -- India’s power-station coal imports from South Africa fell 39 percent in July from a year earlier, according to India Coal Market Watch, published by Kolkata-based online trading company mjunction Services Ltd.
Supplies from South Africa dropped to 1.29 million metric tons from 2.1 million a year earlier, mjunction Services Ltd., a joint venture between Tata Steel Ltd. and Steel Authority of India Ltd., said in the report.
Imports from South Africa have declined as average coal prices at Richards Bay rose 37 percent in the first seven months to $120.20 a ton from a year earlier, data from Petersfield, U.K.-based researcher IHS McCloskey showed. Shipments from the African country slumped 21 percent to 7.55 million tons in the first half, according to India Coal.
Coal prices at Richards Bay gained 1.5 percent week-on-week to an average $117.46 a ton in the seven days ended July 29, data from IHS McCloskey showed.
Shipments from Richards Bay Coal Terminal, on South Africa’s east coast, dropped 27 percent in July from a year earlier, according to Bloomberg calculations based on data on the terminal’s website.
India imported about 21 million tons of the fuel last year from South Africa.
By Dinakar Sethuraman
Aug. 8 (Bloomberg) -- India’s power-station coal imports from South Africa fell 39 percent in July from a year earlier, according to India Coal Market Watch, published by Kolkata-based online trading company mjunction Services Ltd.
Supplies from South Africa dropped to 1.29 million metric tons from 2.1 million a year earlier, mjunction Services Ltd., a joint venture between Tata Steel Ltd. and Steel Authority of India Ltd., said in the report.
Imports from South Africa have declined as average coal prices at Richards Bay rose 37 percent in the first seven months to $120.20 a ton from a year earlier, data from Petersfield, U.K.-based researcher IHS McCloskey showed. Shipments from the African country slumped 21 percent to 7.55 million tons in the first half, according to India Coal.
Coal prices at Richards Bay gained 1.5 percent week-on-week to an average $117.46 a ton in the seven days ended July 29, data from IHS McCloskey showed.
Shipments from Richards Bay Coal Terminal, on South Africa’s east coast, dropped 27 percent in July from a year earlier, according to Bloomberg calculations based on data on the terminal’s website.
India imported about 21 million tons of the fuel last year from South Africa.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
S.Africa coal exports fall m/m in July to 4.36 mln T
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) exported 4.36 million tonnes of coal in July compared with 4.78 million tonnes the previous month, RBCT data showed on Thursday.
This compares with 5.94 million shipped during the same month last year.
South Africa -- a major exporter of coal to power stations in Europe and Asia -- had 4.23 million tonnes of stock at the terminal at the end of July, RBCT said.
This compares with 5.94 million shipped during the same month last year.
South Africa -- a major exporter of coal to power stations in Europe and Asia -- had 4.23 million tonnes of stock at the terminal at the end of July, RBCT said.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Anglo American stops all coal operations in South Africa due to strike
Wednesday, 27 Jul 201
Anglo American said that it has halted operations at its South African coal mines due to a wage strike which started with the late shift on Sunday.
Mr Moeketsi Mofokeng a spokesman at the thermal coal unit said that "There is still no production at all the Anglo American owned mines.”
Talks between unions and employers resumed on Tuesday in a bid to end the strike.
Mr Mofokeng said the company would need 24 hours to get its operations back to normal once the strike is ended.
(Sourced from Reuters)
Anglo American said that it has halted operations at its South African coal mines due to a wage strike which started with the late shift on Sunday.
Mr Moeketsi Mofokeng a spokesman at the thermal coal unit said that "There is still no production at all the Anglo American owned mines.”
Talks between unions and employers resumed on Tuesday in a bid to end the strike.
Mr Mofokeng said the company would need 24 hours to get its operations back to normal once the strike is ended.
(Sourced from Reuters)
Monday, July 25, 2011
South African Premier Bulk Port - Port of Richards Bay
Richards Bay is SA's premier bulk port and the most modern. Although built in 1976 for the export of coal, it has since expanded into other bulk and breakbulk cargoes.
In 2010 the port handled 84.937 million tonnes of cargo. A far cry from the unimpressed view expressed by Commissioner Henry Cloete in 1843, when he surveyed the Mhlatuze estuary and declared it to have little or no potential as a future harbour.
Situated at Longitude 32º 02' E and Latitude 28º 48' S, Richards Bay, South Africa's most northernmost and easterly port, is 87 nautical miles (160 km) northeast of Durban and 252 n.miles (465 km) southwest of Maputo.
A dedicated railway line connects the port with Mpumalanga Province and Gauteng and was designed specifically to handle the majority of South Afroca's coal exports. Other rail links connect Richards Bay with Durban in the south and Swaziland and Mpumalanga to the north. There is an adequate road system to Gauteng, Swaziland, Mozambique and Mpumalanga, and an excellent road south to Durban.
The port occupies 2,157 ha of land area and 1,495 ha of water area at present, but has the potential of expanding when required, making Richards Bay potentially one of the largest ports worldwide. Richards Bay serves the coalfields of KwaZulu Natal and Mpumalanga Province as well as timber and granite exporters from as far away as the East Cape and Northern Cape Provinces. In 2006 the port is handling an increasing variety of bulk and neo bulk cargo in addition to breakbulk. Much of the general cargo has migrated away from Durban in recent years. Exports remain the main activity of the port.
There are currently 21 berths in service including those at the privately operated Richards Bay Coal Terminal but excluding the dredger and tug berths. An additional coal berth is currently under construction.
The port has extensive rail and conveyor belt systems servicing the berths from nearby factories and plants.
Port Limitations:
The port of Richards Bay is open 24 hours a day 365 days a year. The entrance channel is dredged to a permissible draught of 17.5 metres with a -19,5m depth in the entrance channel. Berthing varies between 8m (small craft berth) and 19m (coal berths).
Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels from approximately 3 n.miles southeast of the south breakwater, with pilot transfer performed by pilot boat. Navigation is subject to VTS (vessel tracking service system) operated from Port Control offices, which oversees all shipping movements inside port limits. Tug assistance is compulsory. Draught within the port varies according to location.
The largest ship handled in the port so far was the 372,201DWT Brazilian Pride, which had a length of 363.7m, a beam of 63.4m and a maximum draught of 21.8m. The largest shipment of coal was lifted onto the 206,258DWT bulk carrier Ocean Vanguard.
Marine Craft:
Richards Bay operates a fleet of five tugs owned and operated by the National Ports Authority (NPA), all Voith Schneider-propelled craft. They are maintained to SAMSA class 8 standard and are equipped for fire fighting and salvage.
The port also employs a twin-screw diesel work boat/tug of the Tern class named Swift Tern, which has a bollard pull of 19 tons, which also provides pilotage transfers when necessary. This vessel entered service at Richards Bay in September 1998.
Pilot service was provided by an Agusta A109 K2 'HPS' twin-engine 8-seat helicopter operated by Balmoral Maintenance Services. A standby diesel powered pilot boat is available.
Dredging is performed by the NPA on an ongoing basis inside the port and immediately outside the entrance using a trail suction hopper dredger named Ingwenya (formerly HR Moffatt). The port operates a single screw launch named Piet-my-Vrou. Additional international dredging firms are borught in to assist as necessary.
The NSRI has a base at Richards Bay, which includes a deep-sea rescue craft.
Port Volumes:
During the 2010/11 financial year ended 31 March 2010 Richards Bay handled a total of 1,871 ships with a gross tonnage of 63,625,727. During the same year the port handled 84,930,459 tonnes of cargo, of which 75,904,752t was bulk cargo.
Imports amounted to 5.277mt and exports 75.035, excluding containers handled (30,912-TEU).
Port Facilities:
Richards Bay consists of a Dry Bulk Terminal, a Multi Purpose Terminal and the privately operated Coal Terminal. Other private operators within the port include several wood chip export terminals and a bulk liquid terminal.
During its 2008/09 financial year the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) handled 62.289 million tonnes of export coal - in the 2010 calendar year the total was 63.427mt.
The terminal has undergone an upgrade and has increased its capacity to 91 million tonnes annually. Ships are handled at six berths (301-306) each 350m in length with a -19m water depth alongside and a permissible draught of 17.5m. The adjacent 209 chemical berth is 300m long and has a depth alongside of -14m with a permissible draught of 12.5m.
Up to 200-wagon trains deliver coal to RBCT on a non-stop daily basis, each payload averaging up to 16,800 tonnes. Plans have been announced to introduce 100-tonne wagons which will increase the maximum train load to 20,000 tonnes. Transnet Freight Rail delivered 62,861mt of coal to the terminal during the 2010 calendar year period. A maximum of 6 million tonnes of coal can be stockpiled at the terminal. There are 80km of rail track within the RBCT complex. The terminal has handled well in excess of 1 billion tonnes of coal for export since opening.
A fully equipped diving service is available for ship inspection. Ship repair is undertaken at the quayside (usually the small craft berth), as the port currently has no ship repair facilities, although a large facility is being planned. A dry or floating dock is under consideration but this matter has dragged on for several years without conclusion.
The port with its immediate region has become a popular call for international cruise ships because of the close proximity to game parks and the St Lucia World Heritage Site. Cruise ships make use of either the small craft berth or one of the normal cargo handling berths depending on the size of the ship. There is a modern marina adjacent to the tug and dredging berths at the small craft basin. Water sports and recreational facilities are available in the harbour at reserved places.
Bunkering is provided by bunker barge or from the chemical and coal berths - berths 209, 301 and 302.
The outer anchorage is situated approximately 3 - 5 nautical miles south-east of the port entrance. An inner anchorage is available for emergency use only.
MULTI PURPOSE TERMINAL (MPT)
Tel (27) 035 905 3209
The multi-purpose terminal is situated in the deep-water port of Richards Bay, on the east coast of South Africa, and is the product of the merging of two separate terminals, namely the Bulk Metal and Combi Terminals. The resultant integration of infrastructure and facilities has enhanced the terminal’s ability to logistically manage a variety of cargo types, namely break bulk, neo-bulk and containers.
Storage Capacity
Covered storage includes two warehouses of 10,000 m2, with a canopy between the warehouses that provides an additional 8,000 m2 of covered storage for sensitive cargo. It also has a 4,500 m2 shed.
The terminal has 330,000m2 of open storage area, as well as a 75,000 m2 ferro handling facility and a 55,000 m2 log terminal, which is leased. It also has 70,000m2 of undeveloped land.
The Multi PurposeTerminal has six berths and an annual throughput capacity of 5.6 million tonnes.
The terminal has an annual throughput capacity for breakbulk cargo of 5.6 million tonnes.
DRY BULK TERMINAL (DPT)
Tel (27) 035 905 3215
By the early 1950's, in the wake of burgeoning South African industrial expansion, the need for new port facilities had become ever more pressing. The need for major expansion of export facilities was further emphasised by the Chamber of Mines that claimed there was a vast potential for South Africa's raw materials, provided adequate rail and port facilities capable of accommodating large vessels were available.
Prior to the mid 1970s the port complex of Richard's Bay, situated on the east coast of South Africa, was a large natural lagoon, home to the exuberant wildlife of the coastal region of Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal. In April of 1976 the port was officially opened; a one-time lagoon converted into a thriving 19m deep man-made port. Now it is the country's largest exporting port.
The Dry Bulk Terminal (DBT) is one of the original (initial) port operators, and in its first year, only managed to trade some 100,000 tonnes of cargo. Today, DBT handles in excess of 13 million tons of cargo annually.
The Dry Bulk Terminal is a unique terminal in that it handles multiple products over its conveyor system. This means to say that no conveyor (or 'conveyor' route : over 40km ) is dedicated to any one specific commodity, and hence, to avoid contamination, belts, transfer points, rail trucks and vessel loaders/unloaders need thorough washing after each loading/unloading of a parcel, before commencing the next product handling.
In general, commodity parcel sizes that can be handled are limited to 65mm maximum. The current ranges of commodities handled are as follows:-
Export Import commodities
Andalusite
Chrome
Magnetite
Ferro Fines
Fertiliser products
Rock Phosphate
Rutile
Titanium Slag
Vanadium Slag
Vermiculite
Woodchips
Zircon
Alumina
Coking Coal
Anthracite
Manganese
Export coal
Metallurgical Coke
Petcoke
Rock Phosphate
Salt
Sulphur
Richards Bay DBT Berthing Details
Berth
Length
Depth
Permissible Draught
609-300m-14.5m14.0m +5.2m
701-240m-14.5m-14.0m +5.2m
702-300m-19m-17.5m +5.2m
703-240m-19m-17.5m +5.2m
704-240m-19m-17.5m +5.2m
705-280m-19m-17.5m +5.2m
801-260m-19m-17.5m +5.2m
804-260m-19m-17.5m +5.2m
RICHARDS BAY COAL TERMINAL (RBCT)
South Dunes
PO Box 56
3900 Richards Bay
Tel (27) 035 904 4911
Corporate Affairs (Ms Zama Luthuli)
Tel (27) 035 904 4045
email zluthuli@rbct.co.za
website address http://www.rbct.co.za
(sourced Ports.Co.Za
Thursday, July 7, 2011
S.Africa's June coal exports rise to 4.78 mln T
Thu Jul 7, 2011
*Transnet hopes to move 70 mln tonnes in 2011/12
JOHANNESBURG, July 7 (Reuters) - South Africa's coal exports from the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) rose to 4.78 million tonnes in June from 3.57 million the previous month, RBCT data showed on Thursday.
South Africa -- a major exporter of coal to power stations in Europe and Asia -- had 2.99 million tonnes of stock at the terminal at the end of June, RBCT said.
South African freight logistics group Transnet [TRAN.UL] has said it expects to move 70 million tonnes of export coal to port by rail in its 2011-12 financial year, though problems on the line have put its target in doubt.
Coal producers in South Africa, including Anglo American (AAL.L: Quote), BHP Billiton (BHP.AX: Quote)(BLT.L: Quote), Exxaro (EXXJ.J: Quote), Optimum Coal (OPTJ.J: Quote) and Xstrata (XTA.L: Quote), have been eager to export more coal to meet fast-rising demand from India and China, but have been limited by infrastructure bottlenecks.
South Africa's coal exports via the Richards Bay terminal have been way below the expanded capacity at the terminal of 91 million tonnes.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Up to four new black-owned coal producers allowed export entitlement
Monday, 30 May 2011
Cape Town, South Africa: South African mines minister Susan Shabangu has approved recommendations which will allow as many as four new black-owned companies export entitlement from the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT).
Miningmx reports that the recommendations are in terms of the long-awaited reorganisation of South Africa’s Quattro system, which provides 4Mtpa of export entitlement to black-owned companies through RBCT.
The reorganisation of Quattro became necessary when members of the Quattro scheme successfully applied for use of Phase V of RBCT’s expansion project commissioned in May last year. As a result, these Quattro members ‒ using both RBCT entitlement and Quattro ‒ have been “double dipping”.
Chief director for mineral promotion at the Minerals Resources Department Bonga Ndabezitha said in terms of the recommendations roughly 700,000t/year of export entitlement had been reallocated. Of this, Quattro members not receiving RBCT Phase V entitlement would be upgraded to 200,000t/year while the balance would be provided to admit three to four new exporters to the system.
“The minister has approved the recommendations and we’ll begin the process of informing Quattro members from about Thursday or Friday this week,” he told Miningmx.
Quattro members who had won direct RBCT entitlement would not immediately lose their Quattro membership, but would be migrated from the system to RBCT direct entitlement over a period of three to four years.
Ndabezitha said the appointment of Quattro’s new administrator would be decided next week. In February this year, the system’s administrator, Mhlatuze Bay Coal Administrators (Mhlatuze), was subject to allegations that it had misappropriated R5.5 million. The administrator was suspended pending an investigation. Two companies that tendered for Quattro’s management have been shortlisted with adjudication by the Code Industry Task Team.
“We met last week to decide on criteria we would use to adjudicate the successful administrator,” said Ndabezitha. “We will make a recommendation to the minister and we hope to make an appointment next week,” said Nbabezitha. (sourced miningreview)
Cape Town, South Africa: South African mines minister Susan Shabangu has approved recommendations which will allow as many as four new black-owned companies export entitlement from the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT).
Miningmx reports that the recommendations are in terms of the long-awaited reorganisation of South Africa’s Quattro system, which provides 4Mtpa of export entitlement to black-owned companies through RBCT.
The reorganisation of Quattro became necessary when members of the Quattro scheme successfully applied for use of Phase V of RBCT’s expansion project commissioned in May last year. As a result, these Quattro members ‒ using both RBCT entitlement and Quattro ‒ have been “double dipping”.
Chief director for mineral promotion at the Minerals Resources Department Bonga Ndabezitha said in terms of the recommendations roughly 700,000t/year of export entitlement had been reallocated. Of this, Quattro members not receiving RBCT Phase V entitlement would be upgraded to 200,000t/year while the balance would be provided to admit three to four new exporters to the system.
“The minister has approved the recommendations and we’ll begin the process of informing Quattro members from about Thursday or Friday this week,” he told Miningmx.
Quattro members who had won direct RBCT entitlement would not immediately lose their Quattro membership, but would be migrated from the system to RBCT direct entitlement over a period of three to four years.
Ndabezitha said the appointment of Quattro’s new administrator would be decided next week. In February this year, the system’s administrator, Mhlatuze Bay Coal Administrators (Mhlatuze), was subject to allegations that it had misappropriated R5.5 million. The administrator was suspended pending an investigation. Two companies that tendered for Quattro’s management have been shortlisted with adjudication by the Code Industry Task Team.
“We met last week to decide on criteria we would use to adjudicate the successful administrator,” said Ndabezitha. “We will make a recommendation to the minister and we hope to make an appointment next week,” said Nbabezitha. (sourced miningreview)
Thursday, March 31, 2011
S.African Transnet shuts coal lines after derailment
Thu Mar 31, 2011 4:18pm GMT
JOHANNESBURG, March 31 (Reuters) - South Africa's freight logistics group Transnet [TRAN.UL] said on Thursday that it had closed two lines linking the coal mines with the Richards Bay export terminal after a derailment near Ermelo.
Spokesman Sandile Simelane said one of the two lines would reopen on Friday.
"We anticipate one of the lines to reopen tomorrow," he told Reuters, adding that an investigation into the cause of the derailment was ongoing. He declined to comment on how much tonnage would be lost as a result of the derailment, which occurred on Wednesday. (Reporting by Agnieszka Flak, sourced Reuters )
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
S.Africa's RBCT shelves expansion plans-paper
Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:43am GMT* Says increase in exports dependent to rail expansion
* RBCT's current capacity at 91 mln tonnes
JOHANNESBURG, March 30 (Reuters) - South Africa's Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) has shelved plans to increase export volumes until 2015 due to the slow pace of rail infrastructure expansion, the Business Report newspaper said on Wednesday.
South Africa is a major exporter of coal to power stations in Europe and Asia, but bottlenecks on the rail line leading to the Indian Ocean terminal are hampering shipments.
RBCT chief executive Raymond Chirwa said efforts to increase exports were frustrated because of limited infrastructure provided by state rail and logistics group Transnet [TRAN.UL].
"It would be irresponsible for RBCT to expand when the other items of the value chain have not expanded," Chirwa was quoted as saying.
"We can extend beyond 100 million tonnes a year but that depends on the performance of Transnet Freight Rail, which has not expanded its infrastructure to our 91 million tonnes capacity. At the moment there is a deficit in the rail."
An RBCT spokeswoman could not immediately be reached for a comment.
Transnet has been investing heavily in new and improved infrastructure, but is still far from meeting annual RBCT capacity of 91 million tonnes.
In 2010, South African coal exports rose to 63.43 million tonnes, boosted by demand from China and India.
Companies in the coal sector include Anglo American (AAL.L: Quote), Xstrata.(sourced:Reuters)
Thursday, March 24, 2011
SAfrica's Transnet ups coal line tariffs by 26-30 pct
Thu Mar 24, 2011 8:10am GMT
JOHANNESBURG, March 24 (Reuters) - South Africa's rail and logistics group Transnet [TRAN.UL] said on Thursday it would raise tariffs on its rail line used to transport coal to the export terminal at Richards Bay by up to 30 percent.
"The export coal rail tariffs will be raised by between 26-30 percent. The tariff increases will be effective from March 26," spokesman Sandile Simelane said in an emailed response to questions. (Reporting by Agnieszka Flak, Editing by Olivia Kumwenda, Reuters)
Tags : raw material, power station coal, Asian coal market, Africa coal
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
South Africa steam coal export price rise to USD 119 a tonne
Tuesday, 15 Mar 2011
Prices for coal shipped from South Africa’s Richards Bay the continent’s biggest export facility for the fuel, rose 0.3% to USD 119.89 a tonne last week.
According to IHS McCloskey, the data are an average based on daily price assessments and a market survey. Australian coking coal rose 0.7% to USD 327.85 a tonne. (sourced:bloomberg)
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