Cape Town - State logistics group Transnet expects coal
transported along its lines to triple to 30 million tonnes within seven years
to meet demand at coal-fired power stations, a presentation showed on Tuesday.
"Indications are that the demand for the transportation
of coal to Eskom's power stations will grow from 7 million tonnes currently to
30 million tonnes by 2019," Transnet said in a submission to parliament.
Transnet is spending billions to upgrade its rail haulage
system, where years of underinvestment is blamed for constraining exports of
key commodities, including coal, iron ore and manganese.
Transnet has said it expects to transport at least 73
million tonnes of coal through the Richards Bay Coal Terminal in the current
financial year to end-March, up from 68 million tonnes in the last financial
year.