KADAKE TO MATSAPHA RAILWAY FOR MWELASE MINING

MBABANE – Mwelase Mining Eswatini (Pty) Ltd has approached Eswatini Railways for entering into commercial agreements.

The new investors of Ngwenya Iron Ore Mine, Mwelase Mining Eswatini (Pty) Ltd, have proposed that an estimated 25 trucks are needed per month for operations. The proponent will effectively implement and adhere to the road safety measures for the transportation of its product from the mine to Sidvokodvo rail by trucks and from then by rail to the port.This was proposed by the company in the comprehensive road transport plan.
The revival of the railway line was proposed to run within 36 months from the start of the mining operation, as expressed by the Eswatini Railway department.

Mwelase Mining Eswatini (Pty) Ltd wants to carry on with the logistics operations from mine to Mpaka/Sidvokodvo rail by trucks. The product would be transported from the mine to Mpaka/Sidvokodvo rail siding by trucks usine MR3 and MR9 highway roads. The distance that would be travelled by the trucks ferrying the product from the mine to the rail siding is 76 to 110 kilometres (km). “The iron ore shall be ferried from Mpaka/Sidvokodvo rail to Maputo port in Mozambique,” said the report.

Approached

In this context, Mwelase Mining Eswatini (Pty) Ltd has approached Eswatini Railways for entering into commercial agreements reached to a stage for signing. Eswatini Railway would provide the necessary wagons in coordination with CFM (Mozambique Rail and Ports) and the Matola terminal would be used as discharging port. “The proponent has consulted with Eswatini Railways for exploring possibilities to rehabilitate the rail line from Kadake to Matsapha as proposed in the Malagwane Commission report,” states the report. It was also noted that Eswatini Railways line had shown a positive expression of interest provided the mining operation were confirmed with a lifespan of more than 20 years. The proponent availed that as a standard operational procedure and giving top priority to the safety and fatigue of the employees, two drivers per truck is mandatory. They said the drivers can work on long shifts, each comprises of 12 hours of duty.

The mine said the shift changing hours would be during the peak hours of traffic which is 6am to 8am and 5pm to 7pm.“This will ensure the minimum number of trucks on the road during the peak hours assuring the shift changing time, the trucks are mandatorily to go for preventive maintenance checks and refuelling,” said the mine in the report.

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