Minister of Public Enterprises, Ms Lynne Brown, today reopened the Fieldview - Kamfersdam section of the rail line, following the construction and refurbishment of a waste water treatment system for the Kimberley area. The project is a partnership between Transnet and the Sol Plaatjie Municipality.
Transnet Freight Rail’s Manganese Export line, which runs from the mines in Hotazel to the export facility in Port Elizabeth, runs through Kamfersdam.
About 1, 5km of railway tracks was submerged following abnormally high levels of rainfall in January 2011. Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) halted operations on this stretch of the line and diverted all traffic to the McFarlane – Kamfersdam line. This had a negative impact on rail efficiencies as it added three hours to train turnaround times.
In addition, the flooding posed significant environmental risks. The Kamfersdam pan is a haven for birdlife and due to the rising water levels of the pan, the flamingo breeding area was flooded and the quality of water deteriorated over time.
TFR and the Sol Plaatjie Municipality co-funded the restoration project with both entities contributing R74 million and R18 million respectively. Work commenced in June 2011 and was completed in December 2013. The restoration entailed construction of a pipeline running between Kamfersdam and Langleg Pan in Kimberley, while the line was raised by 700mm to eliminate any future risks of flooding.
Speaking at the launch attended by Northern Cape Premier, Ms Sylvia Lucas, the Sol Plaatje Executive Mayor Cllr David Molusi, Minister Brown said: “This partnership between ourselves and Transnet illustrates the strides we have made in ensuring that the entities the Department oversees give back to our communities. We continue to insist on this.”
The Minister further welcomed the creation of 130 job opportunities and the training of the community in various technical aspects of the project such as pipe laying and plumbing.
“The economy and the people of this region suffered tremendously when the rail line was flooded. The reopening of the line will definitely boost the economy and create more job opportunities,” said Minister Brown.
For Transnet, the ssuccessful completion of this project has decreased the travelling times for trains on the Iron Ore – Manganese Export line, boosting efficiencies and productivity significantly. As a result, the number of trains running on the line has increased from 18 to 24 per day.
Last year, the Department gave Transnet the go ahead to invest R26.6 billion to increase capacity on the manganese channel to 16-million tonnes a year. This includes the construction of a new terminal at the Port of Ngqura, outside Port Elizabeth. The rail scope of the programme will include the upgrade and expansion of the rail network between the Northern Cape and Ngqura and the provision of new locomotives and wagons, while the port scope includes the provision and equipping of a new, modern bulk minerals export terminal at the Port of Ngqura, as well as the commissioning of two existing berths.
“This is an exciting prospect and will add to the Province’s potential for being the biggest exporter of manganese and iron ore. We thus welcome this important initiative and we are certain that it will contribute to a more prosperous Northern Cape Province,” said Premier Lucas.
Notes to Editors:
Transnet Freight Rail is the largest division of Transnet SOC Limited.
Transnet Freight Rail owns and maintains a network of over 20 500 route km (30 500 track km) which are connected to the ports and rail networks of neighbouring countries, conveying over 98 commodity groups.
TFR operates world class heavy haul export lines that rail Iron Ore and Coal. The Company runs 342 wagon Iron Ore trains and 200 wagon coal trains to the Ports of Saldanha and Richards Bay respectively.
Issued by Transnet Freight Rail
For further information contact:
Sandile Simelane
Spokesperson
Transnet Freight Rail
Tel. 011- 544 9584
Cell. 083 703 4179