On 18 February a freight train was derailed, damaging a bridge and making the circulation of trains between the South African border and Maputo impossible.
Coal of Africa is a major partner of Maputo port. Not only does it export much of the coal from its mines in South Africa through the port, but it also gave the port operator Grindrod a loan of 16 million US dollars in 2009 to finance the expansion of the Matola Coal Terminal.
However, it was forced to declare force majeure at its South African collieries in Mooiplaats, Woestalleen and Vele following the closure of the railway line. As a result, exports through Matola were cut by 34 per cent from 411,292 tonnes in the previous quarter to just 271,069 tonnes.
The company plans to restart exporting coal through Matola in May.
Post published in: Africa News