It is reported that South African Coal Mining Holdings is poised to pluck the fruits of a ZAR 200 million investment in faster coal loading to match new tonne per hour train tariffs.

Mr Karl Gribnitz CEO of SACMH said that "If you load your trains faster, you save money, if you don’t, it’ll cost you. Transnet has employed some very clever guys that we are starting to deal with, and we are setting out to make a positive contribution."

Mr Gribnitz said that the state owned rail owner Transnet Freight Rail is incentivising rail siding operators to improve loading speeds and the company is also intent on electrifying a stretch of the Ermelo rail line. He added that producers like SACMH can help TFR to change its distribution set, which means giving TFR a greater choice of assets to allocate to coal producers.

Mr Gribnitz said that "One of the things that we are trying to get TFR to do is to change its distribution set so that it can offer us both 20-t axle load trucks and 26 tonne axle load trucks and we are also looking to do electrification. Seeing how we can load coal faster is about the only contribution that we, as producers, can do to improve logistics."

SACMH is also upgrading its Blinkpan siding to help Eskom load coal for the Majuba power station. He said that "We have upgraded our existing plant and we are in the process of ordering new plant. From the start of 2010, we should be at 500,000 tonnes, which will mean a substantial increase. Our new COO, Mr Peet Kotze, is making a major difference.'

Mr Gribnitz said that 10% of SACMH’s coal will go to Eskom. He added that "We will be at the first level of Eskom supply in the next six months."

In SACMH’s case, it is taking steps to be serviced by the 26 tonne axle load coal line rail trucks, which are capable of carrying 46% more than their 20 tonne axle load Ermelo line counterparts.