March 2023
March 1, 2023
Capricorn team visited Tanzania, Dar to meet the coal mining company to discuss various logistics, port managements and long-term export business prospects.
Visited Mtwara port in a private charter, about 1.2 hr from Dar es salaam, from where the coal is currently exported, max size vessel that can load at Mtwara port is supramax due to the draft and entry restrictions. Visited the mines stockpile / allocation within the port etc.
Following day flew from Dar to the nearest airport to the mines i.e., Songea and visited the mines which was about 150 KM.
Mines are located about 750 KM from the port, road infrastructure from the mine to the port is good except the first 70KM from the mine the road is bad which is being attended by government in a phased manner. About 30KM is expected to be repaired by the end of this year.
Currently from the mine about 20 MT tipper is used to bring cargo to first stockpile which is located at about 70 KM from the mine i.e., where the bad road ends | good road starts and from there cargo is further shifted to 30 MT truck and same stockpile to also used for local sales as required by the Government.
Multiple weighbridges are installed on way to port from mine and compliance is mandatory. Weighbridges are installed at the mines stockpile.
Mine operations were in full swing and being managed by very experienced staff and next export shipment was lined up in first week of April 2023. Testing facility was also built at the mine to monitor the daily production and outbound quality.
Currently, there is no testing facility available at the port due to the low export volume and cargo samples are either sent to UAE or South Africa for testing as to the buyer’s requirement. Mine management is in discussion with the reputed testing agencies for setting up the local testing laboratory at the port.
Coal quality is close to RB1 standards & overall mine management was very impressive as to industry standards. The first two shipments were bound for Poland discharge.
