Signalling the dawn of a new commercial mining era in the Eastern Cape, a shipment of 30000 tonnes of coal from Elitheni Coal Mine left East London yesterday for China. This will boost the local economy and create jobs.
The coal was loaded aboard the MV Mishima, a 225m long vessel with a gross tonnage of 39 736.
Transnet port manager Jacqueline Brown said the mine would have an impact in positioning the port of East London as a central logistics hub for continued economic growth and development.
She added that an enclosed coal terminal was scheduled for completion by 2016-17.
“It is the dawn of a new chapter for the port which has for a long time almost exclusively been associated with the automotive industry.” said Brown.
By Zisanda Nkonkobe, East London Daily Dispatch