HARARE: The National Railways of Zimbabwe’s volumes have increased 150 percent since the beginning of the year spurred by an increase in coal production at the country’s major mines.
NRZ acting general manager Lewis Mukwada told our Harare Bureau last Friday that there has been a growth in volumes since the beginning of the year with further uplift expected once chrome exports start.
“The recent lifting of the ban on chrome ore exports is going to drive the company’s volumes and negotiations are in progress with different chrome companies. Since the beginning of the year we’ve started picking up in terms of volumes compared to last year’s performance where we were only moving less than 200,000 tonnes per month.
“With the lifting of the chrome export ban we’re hopeful of growth going forward and negotiations are underway with chrome mining companies,” said Mukwada.
“So as we’re heading towards the end of the year, we expect better business considering that chrome has in the past been one of the major revenue drivers.”
The giant parastatal had previously targeted to move five million tonnes this year and with the recent development on chrome, they are likely to achieve the target.
NRZ’s system was designed to transport 80 million tonnes per annum. Last year the company managed to move 3,8 million tonnes. NRZ has a fleet of about 168 locomotives, 70 of which are serviceable, although all are reaching the end of their life spans.
The bulk of the fleet is over 30 years old and there has been a plan to do “stop gap” rehabilitation of locomotives at approximately $750,000 per unit until finance is available to buy a new fleet.
