Transport News
Clough’s collapse leaves more than $8bn in projects in limbo
More than $8-billion worth of gas, power, rail and mining tasks across Australia, Mongolia and Papua New Guinea face hold-ups following the collapse of engineering firm Clough on Monday. Tasks that could be struck consist of the growth of the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia, run by Rio Tinto, and significant power plant and transmission jobs necessary to maintaining a stable grid in Australia from 2023.
Transnet sees South African coal exports as being safer on diesel trains
South Africa’s State-owned port and rail company Transnet proposed changing to diesel trains to avoid disruptions to coal exports triggered by the theft of power cable televisions that disable electrical locomotives. At least 1 500 km of cable was taken in the current fiscal year, according to Transnet CEO Portia Derby. That’s compounded hold-ups to exports triggered by other aspects including a current derailment, a labour strike and discontent that prevented deliveries.
More charges on the cards for accused in R400m SA Express tender fraud scandal
Four individuals and three business accused of scams and corruption in connection with a R400-million SA Express tender could deal with added fees. Tebogo van Wyk, 40; Nothando Dube, 44; Sipho Levy Phiri, 39; Thabang Mahlakoleng, 54; and the companies, Batsamai Investment Holdings, Sevilex Investment Holdings, and Lavao, Estevao (Pty) Ltd, appeared in the Molopo Magistrate’s Court in the North West on Thursday. The case was held off to 30 March 2023, for an application to the workplace of the National Director of Public Prosecutions for racketeering charges to be added, according to National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Henry Mamothame. The Hawks apprehended them in September and charged them with 34 counts that consist of fraud, corruption, cash laundering and contravention of the general public Finance Management Act.
Cape Town tourism recovers to pre-Covid levels, as another US airline lands in the city
Cape Town’s traveler sector was nearly back at pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels. “In all our key [tourist] markets, in Cape Town, we are nearly recuperated,” reported Western Cape investment, trade and tourist promo firm Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander on Thursday night. She was addressing a function to mark the start of direct flights by significant United States carrier Delta Air Lines (Delta) between its center airport, in Atlanta in the US State of Georgia, and Cape Town. She highlighted that the numbers of US tourists anticipated to go to the Mother City (as it is known in South Africa) throughout this peak summer season (United States winter) holiday season would actually go beyond pre-pandemic levels. With the start of direct flights by Delta, Cape Town would now be straight linked to three locations in the United States.
Africa’s last-mile market set to double by 2030
The African last-mile delivery market was valued at $1.14-billion in 2021. By 2030 this is expected to reach $2.35-billion, expanding at an annual compound growth rate of 8.45% between 2022 and 2030, says Frost & Sullivan consultant Nomvo Kasolo.
PRASA, Transnet welcome six-month ban on scrap metal trading
State-owned rail business the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) have both welcomed the six-month ban on the trade of scrap metal as government looks for to restrict damage to infrastructure and the economy. As of December 2, the export of scrap metal will be banned for 6 months while government settles a more long-term legislative service.
Agbiz nears finalisation of interface agreement with Transnet
Industry organisation the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) CEO Theo Boshoff has confirmed that an interface agreement is being finalised between itself and State-owned freight utility Transnet to establish working groups for mapping out critical production areas and to resolve bottlenecks to the agricultural logistics corridors. The work between the two entities, particularly during a workshop hosted in September, is aimed at identifying the capacities required on the agricultural railway lines and ports, as well as what infrastructure needs to be refurbished and at what cost.
Transport Forum highlights need for multimodal logistics to remain competitive
Freight, logistics and transportation industry experts have called for the restoration of South Africa’s roads network, the repair and advancement of the rail network and effective ports and border posts, arguing that the country can just stay competitive if its logistics networks and supply chains work coherently in show. South Africa is a significant exporting developing nation, with diverse exports and stays categorized as a high middle-income nation, said Gordon Institute of Business Science Business School research study financial expert Dr Roelof Botha at the Transport Forum conference, in Johannesburg, on December 1.
Standard Bank starts roll-out of digital taxi payment app
Standard Bank is starting to roll out a digital taxi payment app that it thinks will eliminate the stress of having the best cash on hand for a minibus taxi journey. The app is also set to assist taxi owners in improving the efficiency of their minibus fleets. Carrying money includes risks, explains Standard Bank primary markets head Motlatsi Mkalala.
Six-month ban imposed on export of copper scrap as South Africa seeks to combat theft
The South African government has enforced a six-month restriction on the export of copper and copper-alloy scrap, along with many ferrous scrap as part of the first phase of a three-phase intervention created to fight the widespread theft of metals used in public infrastructure. The economic damage of ongoing theft and vandalism has been estimated at R47-billion and has magnified both loadshedding and the disruption of freight and passenger rail services.
TFR says lessons from slot-sale process will inform future third-party model
Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) insists that valuable lessons have been gained from a recent attempt to sell 16 slots on its Cape and Container corridors, which resulted in only one applicant emerging as a potential operator of slots on the Cape Corridor between Kroonstad and East London. In fact, CEO Sizakele Mzimela dismissed suggestions that the process had failed, noting that it had been a pilot project and had proceeded in the absence of the policy certainty on third-party access that is likely to arise only once the National Rail Policy had been finalised, probably only in 2024.
Empty Trips includes open rail slots on matchmaking platform
Digital logistics marketplace Empty Trips has extended its wise freight-matching platform to include rail journeys. The company states its platform is attending to some of the biggest ineffectiveness in the logistics space, such as trucks, or trains, returning empty from deliveries, by making those journeys available to carriers.
Sanral to invest R1.2bn in R56 road upgrade
Roads entity the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) is undertaking a R1.2-billion project to upgrade the R56 road that links the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. According to the entity, this has been welcomed by residents in Cedarville, in the Matatiele municipality.
Saldanha Bay showcased as JET hotspot
The Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone (SBIDZ), trading as Freeport Saldanha, together with ArcelorMittal Saldanha hosted an on-site check out to Saldanha Bay on November 28 as part of the Re-industrialising Saldanha Day initiative and to display the SBIDZ as a perfect green hydrogen financial investment destination in the Western Cape. Re-industrialising Saldanha Day supplied a summary of pilot jobs allocated for the area, demonstrating how the area will be a vital gamer and catalyst in supporting South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET) and the JET-Investment Plan (JET-IP) by developing and developing a green hydrogen economy.
Transnet auction fails to attract private sector
On Friday, Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) revealed that just 2 companies had taken part in its much-anticipated auction of slots to personal gamers, the company’s very first venture into allowing personal participation on the rail network. The only bid made for the Cape Corridor’s Kroonstad to East London slot was successful and went to Traxtion Sheltam. Traxtion runs rail services in a number of African markets..
Metrorail reinstates Naledi–Johannesburg line with new EMU trainsets
Commuter rail service Metrorail has resumed the weekday train service in between Naledi, in Soweto, and Johannesburg, efficient November 28. The service which will make use of the entity’s brand-new electrical modular systems (EMU) train sets for the very first time. The train will stop at the Naledi, Merafe, Inhlazane, Ikwezi, Dube, Phefeni, Phomolong, Mzimhlophe, New Canada, Longdale, Croesus, Langlaagte, Braamfontein and Johannesburg stations.
IMEC to start South African cadet training programme
The South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI) has actually announced that the International Maritime Employers Council (IMEC) will start a South African Cadet Training Programme in 2023. Following a consultation process and audit of the nation’s maritime abilities and capacity, a last agreement on the matter has been reached in Manila, the Philippines..
Saboa embarks on training initiative
The South African Bus Operators Association (Saboa) has endorsed the training and development of 28 female bus and truck drivers. This is in collaboration with Clarendon Transport Underwriting Managers, which is co-funding the development of the candidates, and with the Commercial Transport Academy, which is the creator and implementing partner of the project titled Women Inspiring Women in Transport.
Uber expands African offering, while Uber Eats sees healthy growth in SA
Mobility platform Uber has about 20 000 motorists and shipment individuals earning an income through the Uber and Uber Eats apps in South Africa, which have more than 2.1-million active platform users, states recently appointed Uber sub-Saharan Africa GM Kagiso Khaole. Uber, and Uber Eats, which concentrates on restaurant shipments, have jointly reached more than 30-million riders and eaters in sub-Saharan Africa because 2013, he includes.
Gauteng’s R12.9bn e-tolls debt repayment will not further burden citizens – Mamabolo
Gauteng Finance MEC Jacob Mamabolo has ensured Gauteng locals that the repayment of R12.9-billion to settle Gauteng’s portion of e-tolls financial obligation would not further problem citizens of the province, mentioning that the debt would be paid by optimising existing sources of income and introducing alternative sources of profits. During the MEC’s discussion of the province’s 2022 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) on November 24, he said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) would be entered into between nationwide government and the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) that would resolve the repayment of the financial obligation in accordance with the 30:70 split announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana during the national MTBPS delivered in Parliament last month.