JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Exports through South Africa’s Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) remained flat in 2009, as the terminal faced “critical business challenges”, CEO Raymond Chirwa reported on Tuesday.

The RBCT exported 61,14-million tons of coal last year, compared with 61,7-million tons in a “smoother” 2008.

Chirwa explained that the business challenges related to integration problems with the new terminal control system.

The RBCT reported that State-owned Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) had delivered 61-million tons in 2009 and that the terminal had achieved 0,14-million tons more than the rail utility by using its stockpile as a buffer.

“TFR’s nonperformance in meeting our rail capacity’s requirements is now the only constraint in the coal value chain,” said Chirwa.

The RBCT said that TFR had admitted that it had not delivered on its mandate and that the rail utility had drawn in additional technical resources to ramp up capacity.

“A collaborative effort is what will help South Africa regain and retain its leadership position in global coal export markets,” Chirwa noted.

The RBCT would reclaim its status as the world’s single largest export coal terminal at the beginning of second quarter of 2010, when the terminal’s yearly throughput capacity will increase from 76-million tons to 91-million tons with the implementation of the R1,2-billion phase V expansion.

The RBCT had offered nine-million tons a year of expansion capacity to nine new shareholders and commercial users with black economic-empowerment priority.

Mbokondo, Umcebo, Exxaro and South African Coal Mining Holdings (SACMH) have concluded agreements with RBCT at the end of last year and were ready to rail coal. Worldwide Coal Carolina, Mmakau, Arm Coal, Tumelo and South Dunes Coal Terminal agreements were in the final stages of negotiation.

“I’m confident that all new exporters will join the existing shareholders in exporting coal as early as the end of this month. This development will open up the world stage to emerging coal exporters and we are proud to be part of this history,” said Chirwa.

At the time of writing, TFR was unavailable for comment.