Palabora using alternative rail routes for exports

[miningmx.com] — PALABORA MINING COMPANY LIMITED, which operates South Africa’s largest copper mine, on Friday said it was using alternative rail routes to export magnetite and vermiculite.

This is after a bridge on the branch rail line between Phalaborwa and Hoedspruit in the Limpopo province was destroyed last week.

The rail line is the link between the Palabora mining operations and the ports of Richards Bay and Maputo and Palabora warned that the incident, caused by the derailment of a fully loaded Transnet train, would hamper its exports and have an impact on sales revenue.

According to Transnet the preliminary assessment indicates the bridge is likely to be out of service for at least six to eight weeks.

Palabora said with the assistance of Transnet, it has inspected alternative stations and railway sidings in order to bypass the damaged bridge to continue transportation of its materials to the ports.

The parties have agreed that Palabora will make use of the Gravelot Station for the loading of magnetite for shipment to Maputo Port and will also use the Hoedspruit Station for the loading of all vermiculite that is in bulk and in containers.

Magnetite and phosphate will be transported by road to these sidings at a rate of up to 350 trucks per day, the company said.