Saldanha should be considered as a bulk port for both iron-ore and manganese ore from the Northern Cape, says BHP Billiton president of manganese Peter Beaven.

Compared to Saldanha, Beaven says that Coega may be more expensive given that Saldanha’s dedicated heavy haul line is cheaper than the general freight line to Port Elizabeth, and Coega and the existing Saldanha port may be able to accommodate a new manganese ore export facility. Coega may yet prove to be a very expensive option.

“One dedicated bulk line may be the most efficient,” is his view.

Currently BHP Billiton’s manganese ore shares the railway line to Port Elizabeth with general freight and passenger trains, using four different lines as well as different voltages.

Logistically, railing bulk to Port Elizabeth presents enormous challenges and is costly.

“We believe that the options are being studied and the debate is on, which is good,” Beaven tells Mining Weekly.

Beaven believes that a cross-indus- try discussion with Transnet and the Department of Public Enterprises is the most sensible approach.

“In rail transport, there are private companies with expertise, skills, money, motivation and strong balance sheets.
Right now, the paradigm has not been one in which we cooperate. Are we going to change that? I hope so,” says Beaven.

Using the Sishen–Saldanha line for all bulk ores would enable lower operating costs and tariffs to all users, although there is undoubtedly further improvements that could be achieved on the Port Elizabeth line. Sasol has worked cooperatively with Transnet and has achieved significant improvements on its rail ser- vices as a result.

Sasol has a form of cooperation with Transnet which involves the running of chemicals-carrying trains, called mambas, in a dedicated loop to avoid sharing and waiting. These trains travel from Secunda to Richards Bay.

Could there be Manganese mambas?
“Yes, no doubt there can be material improvements if we further enhance our levels of cooperation,” says Beaven, “but in reality efficiency will be maximised when we have a single dedicated line. From a simplicity perspective, all the bulk commodities coming out of the Northern Cape should be trans- ported to Saldanha.”

This would mean that BHP Billi- ton has to adjust its current system to the iron-ore system, offering compatible rail cars and building its own berth and stacker-reclaimer system.

“Fine. We understand that and will have to take these matters into consideration,” Beaven says, pointing out that the global BHP Billiton group runs bulk rail systems in Australia and bulk ports on the east and west coasts of Australia as well as in Brazil.

Thirty per cent of BHP Billiton’s entire business involves bulk commodities, which, he says, is as much about logistics as it is about mining.

“I am reasonably happy that Transnet appears to have its ears open on this issue and [the Department of Public Enterprises] is also considering the situation, which is encouraging.

“There is a skills shortage in this country and we had better optimise our skills collectively on this issue. Our offer is always open,” he says.

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