Heidelberg - Diesel flowed through Transnet's new multi-product pipeline (NMPP) from Durban to Heidelberg for the first time on Wednesday.
"We are now able to concurrently run the Durban to Johannesburg pipeline and the NMPP with petroleum products that will see some three million litres per hour... flowing between Durban and Johannesburg every week," Transnet group CEO Brian Molefe told reporters.
He then turned a valve linked to the NMPP to show it was carrying fuel.
The diesel took a week to travel 555km from Durban port to the Jameson Park inland terminal in Heidelberg at a speed of 6km to 7km an hour.
The 24 inch pipeline passes through three pump stations - all now completed - and over the Drakensberg escarpment.
A network of 16 inch pipes linking to the bigger pipeline has also been completed, Molefe said.
The entire R23.4bn NMPP will be finished when the two terminals are complete.
A terminal at Jameson Park and another at Island View in the port of Durban will be completed within the next 18 months.
Once complete, the pipeline will be able to transport petrol, diesel, jet fuel and gas.
"We are now able to concurrently run the Durban to Johannesburg pipeline and the NMPP with petroleum products that will see some three million litres per hour... flowing between Durban and Johannesburg every week," Transnet group CEO Brian Molefe told reporters.
He then turned a valve linked to the NMPP to show it was carrying fuel.
The diesel took a week to travel 555km from Durban port to the Jameson Park inland terminal in Heidelberg at a speed of 6km to 7km an hour.
The 24 inch pipeline passes through three pump stations - all now completed - and over the Drakensberg escarpment.
A network of 16 inch pipes linking to the bigger pipeline has also been completed, Molefe said.
The entire R23.4bn NMPP will be finished when the two terminals are complete.
A terminal at Jameson Park and another at Island View in the port of Durban will be completed within the next 18 months.
Once complete, the pipeline will be able to transport petrol, diesel, jet fuel and gas.