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Transnet lifts force majeure on coal line

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Carol Paton
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A ship is loaded with coal at the Richards Bay Coal Terminal, which is fed by Transnet's coal line.
A ship is loaded with coal at the Richards Bay Coal Terminal, which is fed by Transnet's coal line.
Picture: Dean Hutton/Bloomberg

Transnet has lifted the force majeure on the coal line declared on 10 November, the company said in a statement on Friday. 

The force majeure was declared after a fully laden 97-wagon train derailed on 8 November, causing extensive damage to the track and necessitating the closure of both lines. The lines were re-opened last weekend. 

The cause of the accident has not been made public yet by Transnet, but at the time, it said that it suspected sabotage as businesses forums in Ulundi, near the site of the derailment, had made threats against the company the previous day. However, an initial report by the Railway Safety Regulator said that "the driver lost control of the train", implying some mechanical failure.

Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) is contractually bound to deliver committed quantities of coal for the coal export parties, hence the declaration of the force majeure. In 2022/23, TFR has undertaken to move 60 million tons of coal for exporters, a target which now looks less likely. 

In a statement, Transnet said: 

"A joint recovery operation between Transnet, the coal export industry, and other stakeholders worked around the clock to ensure that the service line was restored to full operation efficiently and effectively, leading to the re-opening of both railway lines by 19 November 2022. However, Transnet was not in a position to resume normal services at full capacity on the coal line because certain critical restoration works remain outstanding. The recent assessment of the site indicates that the normal resumption of services on the coal line can be immediately phased in."

The force majeure – which can only be legitimately invoked in circumstances beyond the control of the contracted party - was the sixth to be declared by Transnet in 18 months. 

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