Transport News
Transnet approaches market for lease of container corridor
Ports and rail operator Transnet, as part of its partnerships technique, has actually decided to engage the market to invest in and grow Transnet Freight Rail’s (TFR’s) containerised freight organization, which services the country’s manufacturing sector. To this end, Transnet will issue an ask for credentials (RFQ) to the market to identify
Gibela calls for applications for 150 university and TVET bursaries for 2023
Train manufacturer the Gibela Rail Consortium is offering 150 bursaries in 2023 in engineering, manufacturing, computer science, supply chain and logistics, and various trade fields at universities and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions. Gibela is calling for applications to be submitted by January 31. The bursaries include full tuition, a book allowance, accommodation and meals. The bursaries are granted for one year and are renewable on a yearly basis based on academic performance.
Nigeria opens ‘game changer’ billion-dollar deep seaport
Nigeria opened a billion-dollar Chinese-built deep seaport in Lagos on Monday, which is anticipated to ease blockage at the country’s ports and help it end up being an African hub for transshipment, handling cargoes in transit for other destinations. President Muhammadu Buhari has actually made building facilities an essential pillar of his federal government’s financial policy, and hopes that this will assist his ruling party win votes during next month’s presidential election.
Cape Town seeks clarity on rail devolvement
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis is calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to confirm whether government intends scrapping its plans to devolve the operation of passenger rail to local authorities. This follows comments this weekend by ANC economic transformation policy head Mmamoloko Kubayi that devolving rail is no longer a policy option for the ANC, adding that she would “not advise any department to dissolve power or function to the metros”.
Anglo cuts emissions at sea
A recently launched emission-reducing ship has actually packed its very first cargo of iron-ore from Anglo American’s Kumba Iron Ore operations in South Africa. The vessel is the very first of 10 melted natural gas (LNG) dual-fuelled new-build ships that Anglo will present to its chartered fleet during the course of 2023 and 2024, delivering an estimated 35% decrease in co2 emissions compared with ships sustained by conventional marine oil fuel.
Uganda to ask Turkish firm to secure rail deal financing
Uganda will ask Turkish company Yapi Merkezi to secure financing for a $2.2 billion rail link to the Kenyan port of Mombasa and is considering export credit firms as prospective sources, a senior official informed Reuters. The Turkish construction business had actually formerly verified a memorandum of understanding was signed with the Ugandan federal government for a possible offer to construct a 273 km (170 miles) train task linking the capital Kampala to Kenya’s own rail to access the Indian Ocean seaport.
Transnet plans bond sale under $6bn note programme
Transnet, which runs South Africa’s ports and freight rail networks, is preparing to sell a dollar-denominated bond under a $6-billion note programme, people familiar with the circumstance stated. The bond will be of five-year period and financier conferences ahead of the sale will start Thursday, individuals stated, asking not to be recognized due to the fact that the info isn’t public.
Opinion: Better infrastructure can help South Africa escape low growth
In this short article, Royal HaskoningDHV wise mobility director Bongani Mthombeni-Möller discusses the infrastructure obstacles facing South Africa and what can be done to resolve these for the benefit of the nation’s economy.
TFR sets March 20 closing date for tender seeking OEMs to step in to rehabilitate idle locos
Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has actually set a closing date of March 20 for responses to a tender welcoming initial equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to step in to restore more than 160 Chinese-manufactured engines that run out service, owing to the unavailability of vital extra parts. The unavailability of engines has actually affected operation on passages used to export coal, manganese, chrome and magnetite, with the coal corridor having actually been particularly badly impacted with the number of operational engines having dropped by 33%, between the 2017/18 and 2020/21 fiscal years, a collapse that TFR itself refers to as “shocking”.
New drives added to extensive portfolio
Advanced engineering manufacturer Danfoss has successfully added its IC2 and IC7 drives, released in the final quarter of last year, to its existing VLT and VACON range of drives. The drives will be manufactured in China, Finland, Denmark and the US, depending on the configuration of the product, and will then be distributed to the African market through engineering solutions provider BMG’s network.