Two major mining companies are rerouting shipments and increasing truck use in response to a Canadian railway stoppage that threatens to disrupt industry operations. Rio Tinto Group announced it will rely on trucking and enhance its use of its own railway between Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador to transport raw materials. The company, which produces aluminum, iron ore, diamonds, and titanium in Canada, made the announcement via email on Thursday.
Author: Constance Makungu
Southern Africa’s Railways Surge with Global Investment Amid Copper Boom
Southern Africa’s railways are garnering international attention and attracting billions of dollars in investment, driven by the race to secure copper supplies essential for the energy transition. From Angola on the west coast to Tanzania on the east, governments and investors are poised to revive long-neglected rail lines and construct new ones. This surge in demand is largely fueled by the central African copperbelt shared by Zambia and the Democratic
Transnet Seeks Debt Relief as Freight and Port Services Struggle
South Africa’s state-owned logistics company, Transnet, is requesting debt relief from the government as it attempts to repair its balance sheet and restore its freight rail and port capacities, according to the company’s chairman, Andile Sangqu, on Tuesday. Transnet is burdened with 130 billion rand ($7.30 billion) in debt and has faced difficulties in providing adequate freight rail and port services due to equipment shortages and maintenance backlogs, stemming from
The US-Backed Railway and the New Era in African Copper Supply
As global competition for critical minerals intensifies, the US-backed Lobito Corridor is poised to revolutionize access to African copper resources. This ambitious project, linking Angola to the mineral-rich Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), challenges China’s dominance in critical mineral supply chains. With an estimated investment of $10 billion, the Lobito Corridor encompasses more than just railway construction. It includes roads, energy facilities, and telecommunications, fostering broader regional economic growth and
Port of Beira Reports 58% Surge in Container Handling Amid Strategic Upgrades
Mozambique’s Port of Beira has experienced a 58% year-on-year increase in container handling between January and May 2024, moving 161,000 containers compared to 102,000 during the same period in 2023. This significant growth was reported by Jan de Vries, CEO of Cornelder de Moçambique, the concession company managing the port. According to Agência de Informação de Moçambique (AIM), the port’s general cargo terminal also saw a rise in activity, handling
Maersk Ship Allegedly Carrying Hazardous Waste Disappears After Warning
A Maersk container ship, carrying an estimated 327 tonnes of potentially hazardous waste, vanished from radar after the international watchdog group, the Basel Action Network (BAN), alerted the South African government about its arrival. The ship, named Maersk Campton, was scheduled to dock in Cape Town on August 1 but went off the grid after the warning. The ship is the first of two vessels reportedly transporting 100 containers of
Staffing Shortages and Sleep Deprivation Linked to Rising Maritime Accidents
Inadequate staffing, leading to sleep deprivation, has been identified as a significant contributor to the increasing number of accidents at sea. “Sleep deprivation heightens the risk of all types of accidents, especially falls and incidents involving heavy equipment,” says Houston-based law firm Arnold & Itkin. “This issue could be mitigated with shorter shifts, which would be possible with increased staffing. Even man overboard (MOB) accidents are partly a result of
Ethiopia to Build Africa’s Largest Airport Near Addis Ababa
Ethiopia has embarked on a significant initiative to enhance its aviation infrastructure by signing an agreement to design a new airport near Bishoftu, approximately 45 kilometers from Addis Ababa. Spearheaded by Ethiopian Airlines, the project aims to establish the largest airport in Africa, with completion targeted for 2029. The new facility will feature four runways and is designed to accommodate up to 110 million passengers annually, making it the continent’s
India’s Major Ports Face Indefinite Strike as Dockworkers Demand Wage Resolution
Dockworkers at India’s twelve largest ports have announced an indefinite strike starting August 28, following prolonged and unsuccessful negotiations over wages and allowances that have been stalled for more than three years. The decision to strike was made after a two-day meeting at V.O. Chidambaranar Port in Thoothukudi, where members of the All India Port and Dock Workers’ Federation expressed their frustration over the ongoing deadlock in wage discussions. The
Fuel Transporters Avoid Zimbabwe Amid New Duty and Delays
Fuel transport operators to the Copperbelt are increasingly bypassing Zimbabwe due to a newly imposed duty aimed at curbing in-transit fuel theft. This development is leading to a significant shift in transportation routes. According to Mike Fitzmaurice, CEO of the Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations (Fesarta), at least two major companies, which handle substantial market-share volumes, have already stopped using Zimbabwe as a transit route. This