Mozambique Coal Logistics: Nacala coal terminal to operate in full speed yet this month

The coal terminal at the port of Nacala-a-Velha, in Mozambique’s Nampula province, will officially start operating on Friday, marking a new phase in the process of transportation and export of coal mined in Moatize, Tete province, the northern logistics corridor company CLN.

The coal terminal is linked to a railway line linking Moatize to the coastal port on the Indian Ocean, which passes through neighbouring Malawi, with an approximate extension of 900 kilometres.

The construction of both the terminal and particularly the railway line, which started in 2012, cost about US$4.5 billion and included the construction of some new sections as well as the reconstruction of others in both Mozambique and Malawi .

The line is owned by CLN, a partnership between the Mozambican ports and railways company CFM, Vale Moçambique, a subsidiary of Brazilian group Vale and Mitsui & Co, of Japan.

Mozambican daily newspaper Noticias reported that after the inauguration scheduled for Friday, at least 21 trains will run on that line on a daily basis at one to two hour intervals.

Metallurgical coal as well as thermal coal extracted in the mines of Moatize is destined for the markets of Brazil, China and Japan and, to date, about 6.5 million tonnes have been exported through Nacala. The target is to reach 18 million tonnes per year, which is the installed capacity of the port and the railway line. (Source: macauhub)