RBCT refutes reports that it has hit a rocky road
Richards Bay Coal Terminal denies retrenchment rumours.
WHISPERS that the global overflow of thermal coal has finally taken its toll on the world’s largest export coal terminal in Richards Bay are untrue says BCT CEO Nosipho Siwisa-Damasane.
The CEO yesterday told the Zululand Observer that despite the unfortunate two-million tons per annum (mtpa) loss it suffered in February owing to a power outage, the terminal remains in a ‘bullish position’.
‘RBCT is on track in achieving the targeted volume of exports for the 2014 financial year as planned with Transnet Freight Rail (TFR). Projections remain at 73 million tons (mt) for the calendar year,’ said Siwisa-Damasane.
‘RBCT, in conjunction with TFR, have achieved a record of 1.66mt against a target of 1.65mt during week 39 (last week).
‘In prior weeks the performance has been consistently above the targeted volumes by both TFR and RBCT,’ Siwisa-Damasane said.
No mass retrenchments
In response to rumours of retrenchments on the horizon at the company, she strongly denied any plans to curtail the terminal’s workforce.
‘RBCT is not considering or aware of any proposed or planned retrenchments. Instead, RBCT is anticipating growth in tonnages for the 2015 financial year, which will increase from the current 2014 ramp up to 74mtpa as per the original five-year plan with TFR.’
She said the company will, however, continue to implement cost cutting measures and reduce waste to consistently ‘sharpen’ its sustainability.
‘It would be irresponsible of RBCT not to look at opportunities to optimise its business processes when globally every company is doing so given the generally depressed economies.
‘We see all our challenges as normal day-to-day business challenges and we are looking forward to achieving our targets for 2014 and our people are working hard in ensuring that we retain our world class terminal reputation.’
Meanwhile, state-owned freight and logistics group Transnet on Tuesday signed its first 10-year take-or-pay contract on the coal export line to RBCT with global resources group BHP Billiton, worth R2.4-billion a year.
It is part of Transnet’s strategy to expand coal capacity to 81mt a year over seven years.
