New home for chrome
It will be completed in five phases over the next four years to accommodate a total of 561 600 tons of chrome.
RICHARDS Bay Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) employees last week finally saw the commissioning of the C&D Chrome stockpile worth R360-million at the harbour’s bulk terminal.
It will be completed in five phases over the next four years to accommodate a total of 561 600 tons of chrome.
‘It was a momentous occasion as the terminal has been struggling with shortage of chrome stockpile capacity,’ said Richards Bay Port TPT Corporate Affairs Manager Mfundo Ndwandwe.
‘The forecast volumes of chrome indicated in the TPT Corporate Plan highlighted that chrome was one of the key commodities of the bulk terminal and is necessary to increase the stockpile capacity.
‘This was also in line with the Transnet Market Demand Strategy to ensure that enough capacity is created for the volumes indicated.
‘The first soil turning took place during August 2012.’
The area is purpose built for storage of chrome, but in the design it can also cater for the handling of other heavier commodities such as magnetite or lighter product such as coal.
Its centre wall is 14m high and 300m in length with two storage areas on either side of the wall and a network of four conveyor belts.
Capacity will be expanded to 229 840 tons in phase one, 330 200 tons in phase two, 442 260 tons in phase three, 561 600 tons in phase four and 561 600 tons in phase five.
