Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) is a world class coal export terminal situated in the Port of ichards Bay. The terminal was opened in 1976 with an original capacity of 12-million tons per annum (mt/a). RBCT is a hub of strategic economic importance in the South African coal industry.

The multi-award-winning terminal provides South Africa’s Coal Exporting Parties (CEPs) with a worldclass logistics service that facilitates the export of coal.

All RBCT’s operations and administrative functions are conducted in Richards Bay. RBCT is owned by Anglo Operations, ARM Coal, South32 Coal, Exxaro, Glencore Operations, Kangra Sasol Mining, South Dunes Coal Terminal, South African Coal Mine Holdings, Tumelo Coal Mines and Umcebo Mining, with Optimum Coal and Koornfontein in business rescue.

Black women own 5.26% of RBCT, which is a 29.54% black-owned terminal, through which 98% of South Africa’s coal exports pass and to which 68 of South Africa’s coal mines, some further than 1 000 km away, supplied coal in 2019. The four-million tonnes of terminal capacity allocated to junior mining companies is still very far from taken up although this is expected to improve in 2020.

RBCT is positioned at one of the world’s deep-sea ports and handles an average of 76 large ships per month and large volumes of coal. The 276-hectare site currently boasts a quay that is 2.2km long with six berths and four ship loaders, with a stockyard capacity of 8.2-million tons.

RBCT shares a strong cooperative relationship with South Africa’s national utility, Transnet, which provides the railway services linking the coal mines to the port, and the coordination of all shipping. The terminal received 25 trains a day in 2019, compared with 27 a day in 2018 and has a capacity to receive 32 a day as part of its partnership with Transnet Freight Rail. Eight hundred and eighty six vessels were loaded in 2019, three more than in 2018.

The terminal exported 72.15-million tonnes (Mt) of coal in 2019. Asia was again the biggest export destination by far, with India and Pakistan together absorbing 91% of total exports, up on last year’s 81.6%.

India, as the biggest single country recipient, imported 41.6 Mt, up on 2018’s 35.29 Mt, followed by Pakistan’s 12.05 Mt (9.37 Mt in 2018).

RBCT CEO Alan Waller said the terminal had again set 77 Mt as the coal export target for 2020, the same as in 2019. RBCT’s export record of 76.47 Mt was set in 2017.

The recent equipment replacement programme has been highly successful, with the first phase’s brand new stacker reclaimers and shiploaders underpinning turnaround time consistency. The two rail-mounted stacker reclaimers operate at a rate of 6 000 t/h and the two rail-mounted shiploaders at a rate of 10 000 t/h.

The stackers allocate the coal to 91 stockpiles and reclaimers extract 42 different grades of coal from the stockpiles. The shiploaders then load the coal on to waiting vessels.

RBCT’s location in the uMhlathuze area has brought significant benefits to the region since the terminal’s opening. In view of the long-term nature of the coal exporting business, RBCT sees it as imperative that it contributes to the development of the region and its people.

RBCT’s slogan, “coal to the world, growth to the nation” fits in well with its sustainable community development initiatives. RBCT participates in a number of social and economic development initiatives aligned with the company’s overall growth strategy. These programmes aim to promote the development and self-sufficiency of local communities within uMhlathuze Municipality, in order to contribute to the creation of an environment in which RBCT business can be conducted, with the focus on sustainability.

RBCT’s Sustainable Community Development strategy plays a constructive role in enhancing the quality of life in the communities within which it operates.