Mozambique: proposed new port and railway

[John Ashworth]

PROPOSED NEW MOZAMBIQUAN PORT AND RAILWAY

Railways Africa On January 31, 2012 In Mozambique

The ITD Project, which envisages a new Mozambiquan port north of the Zambezi river mouth, would provide the shortest route to the Moatize coalfields in Tete province. The Ncondezi Coal Company has signed an agreement with Rio Tinto Coal Mozambique (RTCM) and Minas Revuboe on a deal that would provide the company with up to 10 mtpa of rail and port capacity. A deepwater harbour with initial capacity of 25mtpa is foreseen, eventually upgradable to 100mtpa. A feasibility study is to be financed by RTCM, which is also expected to carry capital costs, but Ncondezi would be involved in the building of a rail connection from the new port to the existing Sena line at Mutarara (about 200km). Ncondezi hopes to start coal production by 2015, to be exported at first via the Sena line to Beira and/or the new route to be completed giving access to Nacala via Malawi.