Heralding the onset of a flood of new economic activity, KZN MEC for Finance and Economic Development - Dr Zweli Mkhize, National Minister of Minerals and Energy - Buyelwa Sonjica and Executive Chairman of RBCT - Kuseni Dlamini participate in the ceremonial sod-turning on the Phase V Expansion Project at Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) rrexpan1
Inspecting harbour activity from RBCT’s site for the Phase V Expansion Project on Friday are KZN MEC for Finance and Economic Development - Dr Zweli Mkhize, National Minister of Minerals and Energy - Buyelwa Sonjica and uMhlathuze City Mayor - Denny Moffatt rrexpan2
Ronelle Ramsamy
HAILED as a momentous milestone in the history of South Africa’s economic development, Richards Bay Coal Terminal’s (RBCT) Phase V Expansion Project was officially launched on Friday.
The glittering sod-turning ceremony held at the exact spot earmarked for RBCT development was attended by among others Minister of Minerals and Energy, Buyelwa Sonjica, KZN MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Dr Zweli Mkhize, uMhlathuze City Mayor, Denny Moffatt, uThungulu District Mayor, BV Mthethwa, members of RBCT’s Board of Directors and trade union representatives.
From modest beginnings as a 12 million tons per annum (Mtpa) coal terminal in the early 1970s, the latest RBCT expansion undoubtedly cements its place as the single largest steam coal terminal in the world.
With a vision of ‘Coal to the World - Growth to the Nation’, completion of the Phase V Expansion Project in 2008 will boost capacity from the current 72 million tons per annum to a staggering 91 million tons per annum.
Celebrating growth
Launching the expansion project, RBCT Executive Chairman, Kuseni Dlamini said they were celebrating the transformation of South Africa’s coal industry, affording BEE and emerging coal miners the opportunity of equally competing for a share of the export coal market.
‘We are celebrating the enhanced prospects for emerging export coal miners to globalise their market footprints and unleash their productive potential for generations.
‘We are celebrating the thousands of jobs that will be created upstream in the coal-mining sector and the impact that those jobs and the 3 500 local jobs that will be created in our local community during the project phase, will have on the lives of several thousand ordinary South Africans,’ said Dlamini.
In achieving it’s transformation goals, RBCT has made special provision to encourage a new generation of coal exporters by earmarking up to four Mtpa for emerging BEE exporters.
Describing coal as ‘the backbone of South Africa’s energy resource’, Minister of Minerals and Energy, Buyelwa Sonjica praised RBCT for their commitment to creating opportunities for previously disadvantaged South Africans and new industry entrants.
‘I am delighted to know that a bulk of the new export capacity will be dedicated to black economic empowerment groups.
‘We must see more entrants to the industry and aspire to be to exporters of the future terminal.
‘Local people must benefit and have access to opportunities, otherwise we will not make an impact on the second economy,’ said Sonjica.
Source: Zululand Observer
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