Richards Bay Coal Terminal achieves record cargo handling as efficiency surges

RICHARDS Bay Coal Terminals (RBCT), operated by Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), is experiencing a renaissance of efficiency, marking a significant milestone as it celebrates the handling of 30 million tons of cargo in the last financial year.

- YOGASHEN PILLAY

In an interview with Business Report on Friday, RBCT managing executive Thula Dlamini highlighted the strategic initiatives that have propelled the terminal's success.

"This includes growing strategic commodities there such as chrome and magnetite much more than the volumes that we did in the last financial year. Coal we expected to do less as the market price faced challenges but we still ended up doing much more than we had budgeted for," Dlamini said.

"We're still using the same number of assets that we've used. I think we've just utilised our assets better. and we continue to improve our efficiencies and that is where the bulk of our growth comes from."

The terminal is now reportedly achieving levels above its operational targets, with magnetite sometimes exceeding outputs of up to 1 800 tons per hour, compared to the planned 1 300 tons per hour.