South Mining is being forced to rely on its own trucking fleet to move coal closer to customers as unreliable rail infrastructure and deteriorating roads continue to constrain access to regional markets.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
South Mining General Manager Victor Farai Rakabopa told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development on Saturday that rail remains the most efficient option for transporting coal from Hwange to markets in Zambia, South Africa and other destinations, but persistent infrastructure challenges have made road transport increasingly necessary.
“The rail system should be our major mode of moving coal from Hwange, whether we are going north towards Zambia, or into the rest of the country, into South Africa, or even to Maputo,” Rakabopa said. “Rail is the most convenient and ideal way of moving coal.”
He said the unreliable rail system has forced the company to assume additional logistics costs and risks by transporting coal by road to strategic points closer to its customers.
“We are now taking the road risk to move products closer to the customer. Then customers coming from South Africa pick products from sites in Bulawayo,” he said.
Road infrastructure under pressure
The shift towards road transportation is adding pressure to the already heavily used Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway, particularly around Hwange, where heavy mineral haulage traffic has contributed to the deterioration of the road.
Rakabopa described some sections of the route as being in extremely poor condition, saying the road was “almost caving in” in places and that heavy vehicles were struggling to pass each other safely.
The condition of the route has also become a growing concern for communities along the Hwange corridor, where heavy truck traffic has been associated with dust, congestion and road safety concerns.
Rakabopa said the deterioration of the road was also affecting the availability of transport services, with some logistics operators no longer willing to send trucks to Hwange because of the condition of the route.
Zambia railway offers alternative route
South Mining is meanwhile exploring regional rail opportunities, including direct discussions with Zambia Railways.
According to Rakabopa, the railway operator has shown interest in moving coal from Hwange, while infrastructure improvements on the Zambian side could create an alternative route for Zimbabwean coal producers seeking access to northern markets.
“Hopefully, whatever Zambia Railways is doing on their end, we can also do the same. We can really capitalise on the opportunities that are coming up, especially like in DRC,” he said.
The potential connection could become increasingly important as Zimbabwean coal producers seek to diversify their markets and reduce their dependence on road transportation.
For South Mining, improved rail connectivity would also reduce the pressure on roads and potentially lower the cost and operational risks associated with moving bulk coal by truck.
Call for increased road funding
Rakabopa urged Parliament to push for increased funding for contractors working on the Hwange-Bulawayo road, arguing that improved transport infrastructure would benefit not only coal producers but the wider economy.
“I think we can also appeal to you, as parliamentarians, that more funding should be allocated to contractors who are working on the road between Hwange and Bulawayo,” he said.
“If our logistics improve in terms of road, I think the business generally in Hwange and in the country will also improve.”
For Hwange’s coal industry, the infrastructure challenge is therefore becoming more than a transport issue. Reliable rail and road links are increasingly critical to the ability of producers to move coal competitively into regional markets, particularly as opportunities emerge in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
