Name and Location
Greenfield railway project, South Africa and Swaziland.

Client
Transnet and Swazi Rail.

Project Description
The project includes the construction of a 146 km railway line between Lothair, in Mpumalanga, South Africa, and Sidvokodvo, in Swaziland, with an initial yearly capacity of 15-million tons.

The 146 km link will divert general freight currently being moved on the Ermelo–Richards Bay line through Swaziland, thereby increasing the capacity of South Africa’s coal channel from Mpumalanga to the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT), in KwaZulu-Natal, to what is estimated to be close to 100-million tons.

Envisaged in the first phase is a single, nonelectrified line, with crossing loops spaced about 40 km apart.

Therefore, the new line, which could emerge as South Africa’s first greenfield line in more than three decades, will be operated by diesel locomotives.

Currently, the coal line has the capacity to move about 72-million tons, well below the 91-million-ton nameplate capacity of the RBCT.

The development is being pursued in parallel with an initiative to build heavy-haul capacity from the Waterberg coalfields, in Limpopo, to Ermelo, in Mpumalanga, which should open up new coal export capacity from South Africa and possibly neighbouring Botswana.

Besides the Lothair–Sidvokodvo link, Transnet will also need to upgrade and strengthen other networks in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique.
These associated projects include the upgrade of the 108 km Davel–Lothair line at an estimated cost of R2.2-billion, strengthening the 345 km Sidvokodvo–Richards Bay line (R4.6-billion) and upgrading the 154 km Phuzumoya–Maputo line, which will involve capital of around R1.8-billion.

Value
The project is estimated to cost between R16-billion and R17-billion.

Transnet is expected to contribute R12-billion and Swazi Rail about R5-billion.

Duration
Construction is expected to begin in 2013 and commissioning is scheduled for 2016.

Environmental approvals and land acquisitions are expected to be finalised between 2012 and 2014.

Latest Developments
Transnet and Swazi Rail have confirmed that that they plan to move ahead with the project.

Detailed engineering for the project, which is receiving strong backing from the South African and Swaziland governments, has still to be completed and environmental approvals obtained.

In addition, land will have to be acquired, while some resettlements are also possible.

South Africa’s Public Enterprises Minister, Malusi Gigaba, and Public Works and Enterprises Minister Ntuthuko Dlamini have made a pubic commitment to doing all in their power to ensure that these issues are dealt with expeditiously.

Further, Transnet Freight Rail is in the process of acquiring and building 143 Class 43-000-type General Electric C30-ACi diesel electric locomotives, which will be deployed over the coming years.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
Transnet media liaison officer Mboniso Sigonyela, tel +27 11 308 2384/458, fax +27 11 308 2465, cell +27 83 463 7701 or email mboniso.sigonyela@transnet.net.
Swazi Rail public relations officer Lizzie Mbokane, tel +268 4042 486/7/8 or fax +268 4045 009.