[miningmx.com] — Mining company PALABORA MINING COMPANY LIMITED, which operates South Africa’s largest copper mine, on Tuesday said the destruction of a bridge in the Limpopo province would hamper its exports and have an impact on sales revenue.
This is after a fully loaded Transnet train derailed and destroyed a bridge on the branch rail line between Phalaborwa and Hoedspruit in the early hours of Monday morning.
The rail line is the link between the Palabora mining operations and the ports of Richards Bay and Maputo.
Transnet has indicated, based on a preliminary assessment that the bridge is likely to be out of service for at least five weeks.
“The railway incident will principally impact the shipment of Palabora’s magnetite to the ports, which will consequently have an impact on sales revenue,” Palbora said.
Magnetite is a by-product of copper production.
Palabora primarily produces copper but its also makes money from copper by-products such as magnetite, nickel sulphate, anode slimes, sulphuric acid and vermiculite.
The company said it was in contact with Transnet and would be reviewing
alternative options.
