South African rail operator Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has postponed its annual shutdown on the coal export line by a week to 20-26 July, amid operational disruption caused by civil unrest.
The shutdown — during which period no coal will be able to be railed to Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) — was originally scheduled for 13-19 July. A spokesperson for TFR said both rail lines into RBCT are now up and running again following a derailment on 11 July.
A locomotive of an empty train heading from Richards Bay to Ulundi derailed with one axle at Elubana at 21:10 local time on 11 July.
"Both lines were initially closed for operation, one line was immediately opened on the same day after it was declared safe for operation. The second line was reopened on Monday morning, 12 July 2021," the spokesperson said.
TFR is still investigating the cause of the incident, although participants previously said it was related to the civil unrest that has swept across parts of South Africa in recent days related to the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma.
A TFR notice dated 12 July seen by Argus said the reason for the delay to the rail maintenance was that the unrest had begun to negatively affect Transnet's operations in ZwaZulu-Natal, "particularly the coal line and the broader Richards Bay area".
Following a risk assessment, TFR concluded that there might be a "catastrophic impact should the shutdown continue, and that the protest action may spill over to sites where the maintenance work will be taking place".
As a result of the unrest, port operator Transnet Port Terminals has issued force majeure, applicable to the Durban Container Terminal Pier 1 and 2, Durban Roro and Multipurpose Terminals, Richards Bay Multipurpose Terminal and Dry Bulk Terminals and Maydon Wharf Bulk Terminal.
Privately owned RBCT — through which the bulk of South African coal exports transit — is not affected by this notice, but it is unclear to what extent operations at the facility are continuing.
Three vessels were berthed at RBCT this morning, with 12 bulk carriers in the queue outside the port.
Stocks at RBCT were around 3.1mn t at the start of last week.
