Responsible forestry - the antidote to plastic

While life without plastic might be hard to imagine, there is a renewable, recyclable and sustainable alternative to single-use plastics and many other fossil fuel derivatives: wood from responsibly managed plantations and forests. This is the message from Forestry South Africa (FSA) ahead of the 54th annual Earth Day (22 April 2024).

“Since inception in 1970, Earth Day has grown into one of the largest civic events. Against the theme Planet vs Plastic, the need for solutions to ensure the health of the planet could not be more urgent, especially when it comes to dealing with the proliferation of plastic,” says FSA’s Dr Ronald Heath, adding that farmed trees have the unique potential as the starting block for countless materials.

A host of fossil-fuel derived, energy-heavy materials can be substituted with wood-based derivatives such as timber in place of steel and concrete, and specialised cellulose for textiles like viscose and rayon. Paper packaging is finding its way back onto supermarket shelves as brand owners make the switch from plastic. Cellulose and nanocellulose can be used as food additives, functioning as thickening agents, stabilisers or emulsifiers, providing a natural alternative to synthetic additives. Lignin, a by-product of papermaking, can be used as in agriculture, construction and for dust suppression.

“Our sector can even make polymers and chemicals out of wood. And, of course, wood and pulp provide the ingredients for everyday essentials like furniture and toilet paper,” notes Heath.

While wood holds promise in various industries due to its renewable nature, biodegradability and versatile properties, the key to a wood-based revolution is its sustainable, responsible production, the theme of FSA’s new video “What is responsible forestry?”

Across South Africa, from Limpopo and Mpumalanga, through KwaZulu-Natal, to the Eastern and Western Cape, there are 1.2 million hectares of commercial forestry plantations, more than 85% of which are certified as meeting the stringent environmental and social standards set by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®). In addition, 40% of these plantations have international PEFC certification through the recently established Sustainable African Forest Assurance Scheme (SAFAS).

From these plantations, more than 15 million tonnes of wood and fibre are harvested annually and for every tree removed, another is planted in its place. This wood, grown using carbon dioxide (CO²), keeps carbon stored long after harvesting and transformation into timber for beautiful buildings, cellulose for high-end fashion, additives for food and pharmaceuticals, and bio-chemicals. One cubic metre of Eucalyptus wood removes around 880kg of CO² from the air, storing around 240kg of carbon.

“South African forestry should be recognised as part of the solution for climate change, plastic pollution and rural unemployment. Wood is a renewable, low-carbon alternative to many of the drivers of climate change. Globally, forestry is considered an integral role player in a green economic recovery: certainly, this is the case in South Africa. It is time we promoted it as such, explaining what responsible forestry looks like and how it can be part of the solution to the environmental crises we currently face,” says Heath.

In an article by the Food and Agricultural Organisation, titled Time to realise the potential of sustainable wood for the planet, the authors make a strong argument for wood as a solution to climate change, believing wood can play a key role by substituting single use plastics such as drinking straws and food packaging as part of the global movement to end plastic pollution.

Responsible forestry goes way beyond the trees. As a rural industry in South Africa, forestry creates employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in some of the country’s most impoverished communities. Through social initiatives, it delivers education, health care, infrastructure and hunger eradication programmes.

Amid the forestry landscape, countless wetland, grassland and biodiversity conservation projects are underway in the 305 000 hectares of unplanted, natural areas within forestry landholdings.

Earthday.org seeks to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040. According to a recent study in the journal Science Advances, around eight billion tonnes of plastic have been produced over the past six decades, 90.5% of which has not been recycled, explains Aidan Charron from EarthDay.org.

“Our reliance on plastics could be the biggest gamble in the story of human health in history. We are all ingesting and inhaling microplastics. They are everywhere. Are we just hoping they are safe, or is even the remotest possibility they might be toxic so terrifying that we can’t contemplate it?” asks Kathleen Rogers, president of EarthDay.org.

FSA plays key role in national crisis control

*Outgoing FSA Executive Committee chairperson Themba Vilane applauded the resilience of the forest sector despite another challenging year. (Photo: Samora Chapman)*

Forestry South Africa held its 21st AGM in the KZN midlands in May, attended by a record number of members and invited guests who were treated to two blockbuster keynote presentations that helped to put the crises facing South Africa into perspective …

What a year 2022 turned out to be for the South African forestry sector! After surviving the Covid pandemic in 2020 and the failed insurrection and looting spree that took place in KZN and Gauteng in 2021, forestry stakeholders were hoping for a more stable and prosperous 2022. But the crises just shifted … to energy (or the lack of it) with load shedding ramping ever upwards; and to logistics where a strike by Transnet workers brought freight rail – that was already in a state of decline – to a standstill in October, costing the battered SA economy R1 billion per day in lost opportunities.

Meanwhile the impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted international markets, creating logistics bottlenecks and causing prices of commodities like fuel, coal, tyres and fertilizer to skyrocket.

In between all of that, the resilient forest sector survived – even thrived in many instances – aided and abetted by the Forestry South Africa team which muscled its way closer to the levers of power to help find solutions for a number of pressing national issues.

Here is a brief highlights package of FSA activities during the year 2022 that were covered by outgoing FSA chairperson Themba Vilane during his address at the recent FSA AGM, and were elaborated upon in his Foreword in the recently published FSA Annual Report.

*Happy to be back in the real world … members and guests turned out in their numbers to attend the FSA AGM at Fern Hill Conference Centre in Tweedie, KZN. (Photo: Samora Chapman)*

Ports and rail

The FSA team established regular meetings with the CEO of Transnet and her top management team, and task teams working on ports and rail met throughout the year, playing a hand in bringing the Transnet strike to an end. As a result of this involvement, Executive Director Michael Peter was asked to serve in a President-led task team working on the reforms needed to address the use and recapitalisation of rail and ports in South Africa.

FSA is also serving on a Presidency-led energy committee which is playing a key role in addressing the energy crisis.

“Having our association at the forefront of these national crises interventions is a great testimony to the regard in which our sector is held,” said Themba.

Research and innovation

Forestry’s growing partnerships with government also bore fruit with FSA securing Sector Innovation Funding of R35.2 million from the Department of Science and Innovation. This funding serves to increase forestry’s research capacity in crucial areas.

Furthermore, the signing of an MoU between FSA and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) will bring an additional R9 million per year for forest protection.

Recommissioning of state plantations

Perhaps the biggest news of the year came just before Christmas when the DFFE called for expressions of interest from the private sector for the operation of 22 000 ha of state-owned forestry plantations in the Western Cape. These former pine plantations have been lying dormant for anything between five to 20 years, as they were handed over to the receiving agents after clear-felling at rotation end by the previous lease holder, MTO Forestry. They were originally part of government’s forestry exit strategy in the Western Cape, but following an outcry from industry stakeholders and further research, Cabinet decided in 2008 to recommission these plantations.

After years of lobbying by FSA and other stakeholders, the process of bringing them back into forestry has begun at last. This is good news indeed and will revitalise forestry and sawmilling in the Western Cape (see story on SAF Online - https://saforestryonline.co.za/articles/w-cape-state-plantation).

“We hope that this signals the start of the process for the rest of the Category B and C state plantations which have been overrun by timber thieves and criminal syndicates …” said Themba.

Incoming FSA Executive Committee chairperson Andrew Mason (medium growers group) and vice-chairperson Buhle Msweli (small-scale growers group). The Executive Committee chair and vice-chair rotate between the Large, Medium and Small Growers Groups every year. (Photo: Samora Chapman)

Land reform

On the land reform front, the FSA Land Committee has come up with concrete proposals to bolster support for communities who have come into forestry through land reform initiatives, in an effort to ensure that a sustainable fibre supply from these plantations is maintained. These include a feasibility study stage in the land restitution process to better inform settlement negotiations; a suite of appropriate settlement models; a crop ownership transfer model and the provision of appropriate post-settlement support for land reform beneficiaries.

Timber volumes up

Finally, Themba applauded the fact that timber sales recorded by FSA members during 2022 were the highest since 2018 at 13.970 million tons (6.2% higher than 2021 volumes). Gum sales were the best performer at 7 million tons (18.5% higher than 2021 volumes), wattle was second best at 1.4 million tons (up 15.5% on 2021 volumes) and pine at 5.5 million tons (down by 7.8% vs 2021 volumes).

These timber sales volumes would have been much higher had it not been for the devastating floods that occurred in KZN in April and the impacts of the rail and port strike in October, the consequences of which are still being felt across all sectors of the economy.

“Should the country succeed in addressing the two biggest challenges we are facing in logistics and energy, this bodes very well for the future of timber growers, especially with the major investments which have been made by our sector in pulp and paper, particle board, sawmilling and renewable energy,” said Themba.

*Celebrating women … women are playing an increasingly active role in the previously male-dominated forestry sector in South Africa. (Photo: Samora Chapman)*

Service acknowledgements

The FSA team paid tribute to two stalwarts of the Forestry Sector, Brian Aitken and Murray Mason, both of whom have put in multiple stints as FSA office bearers over the years, and who have contributed enormously to the success of the sector.

FSA Executive Committee for 2023/24

Ex Large Growers Group

Duane Roothman (SAPPI)
Themba Vilane (Mondi)
Sean Brown (Merensky)
Itumeleng Langeni (MTO)
Tsepo Monaheng (SAFCOL)
Ferdie Brauckmann (TWK)
Penwell Lunga (PG Bison)
Gerald Stoltz (York Timbers)
Mark Armour (co-opted)

Ex Medium Growers Group
Andrew Mason - KZN (MGG Chair) (FSA Chairperson)
Murray Mason - KZN / S Cape
Heiner Hinze - Mpumalanga / Limpopo
Graeme Freese - Past MGG Chairman
Danny Knoesen - NCT

Ex Small Growers Group
Buhle Msweli KZN Provincial Chairperson (FSA Vice-Chairperson)
Musa Mcwensa KZN Deputy Chairperson
Fhatuwani Netsianda Limpopo Provincial Chairperson

Joyce Shozi (chairperson King Cetshwayo District small-scale growers), Sanele Zuma (Siyaqhubeka Forests), and Nelly Ndlovu (CEO Mondi Zimele and chairperson of the Forest Sector Charter Council. (Photo: Samora Chapman)

*Linda Vilakazi (Siyaqhubeka Forests), Maurice Makhatini (Mondi) and Siya Kobese (Sappi). (Photo: Samora Chapman)*

Left to right: Mbali Luthuli, (Assistant Director, Planning, KZN DFFE), Wongeka Kutshwa (Deputy Director, Forestry Development, KZN DFFE), Pumeza Nodada (Deputy Director-General, Forestry Management, DFFE) and Noluthando Kobese (Chief Forester, Forestry Regulation, KZN DFFE). (Photo: Samora Chapman)

Energy … the new GOLD

*Keynote speaker JP Landman finds a silver lining in the energy crisis. (Photo: Samora Chapman)*

Keynote speakers at FSA’s AGM slice and dice the energy crisis and uncover the opportunities that await private sector entrepreneurs …

There is a massive shift taking place in South Africa’s energy sector, from the current public sector energy monopoly to private sector participation, that will end load shedding roughly 18 months from now.

This startling revelation from highly respected political and trend analyst JP Landman caught delegates at the Forestry South Africa AGM unawares. We are so used to hearing about the energy crisis, we suffer the consequences of it at home and at work every day, and we expected more bad news from the keynote speaker to follow the already bad news that has cast a veil of gloom over our lives since forever.

But JP wasn’t joking, although his talk was full of light-hearted banter and sharp-witted humour that sliced through the brain fog enveloping our lives like a hot knife through butter.

South Africa currently has a power ‘baseload’ gap of 6 000 MW, explained JP. Baseload is the dependable power that is always available, and is crucial to meet the fluctuating energy demands of our nation.

There are currently 18 private sector-driven renewable energy projects that are already on the ground in South Africa, explained JP. These projects have the capacity to deliver 18 000 MW which will end load shedding by end of 2024, or by mid 2025 latest. Just 5 000 MW of renewable energy will cut load shedding by 61%, and we could achieve that milestone by the end of this year.

This will be achieved with no additional power contribution from existing state-owned power stations.

“Eskom is a government-owned monopoly that is collapsing in on itself,” said JP. This has led to the current energy crisis which has opened the door for private sector participation in power generation.

“If things were working well, the private sector would never get a look-in,” he said.

He described this as a “massive shift” that will bring South Africa into line with the rest of the world.

“Most countries in the world have moved away from government energy monopolies, because they don’t work,” said JP.

Half of Eskom’s generation capacity will close down over the next decade, he predicted. Eskom will expand the national grid, but there will also be mini-grids and micro-grids established at local and neighbourhood level that will distribute privately generated renewable power to a few households, or a small village, or a cluster of businesses. The technology that makes this possible is already available.

“By 2034 our energy system will be very different from what it is now, and we will have forgotten about load shedding,” said JP.

*JP Landman captivates the audience with his sharp tongue and expert analysis, shedding light on the future prospects of our country. (Photo: Samora Chapman)*

Medupi and Kusile will continue to eat coal for another 40 years, and gas and nuclear will be added to the energy mix. Gas is much cleaner than coal and you can switch it on and off as and when you need it, so it plays an important support role in a country’s energy mix.

From a business perspective, this energy transition to renewables is critical.

“We need to cut our emissions by 17% - we have to go green otherwise we will be barred from exporting our products to important overseas markets. Eskom and Sasol are the worst offenders.

He predicted that the big shift will see the rise of energy traders who will be sourcing clean energy and selling it on to customers.

“In a few years you will be liaising with an energy trader – not Eskom,” said JP. “This is already the case overseas.”

Municipalities will be in crisis, as they won’t be making money out of on-selling electricity. But here too, out of crisis comes the possibility of change, and they will have to jack up their services in order to survive.

R1.5 trillion will have to be invested in this new economic sector, and this presents a “HUGE” opportunity.

“Energy is the new gold,” he said.

Turning to the political front, he was equally forthright. Progress is restoring the dignity of every citizen in their everyday lives. This, he said, can only be achieved by a grand government coalition that has the support of 75% of the people.

“Nobody can do it on their own. We need shared values, we need inclusivity …”

Don’t delegitimise South Africa’s democracy, he pleaded, we just need a more or less helpful attitude towards one another and to unleash the power of science and technology to restore dignity to people.

“Be grateful for the fact that we live in peace.”

Blackout blues

Following that blockbuster presentation was always going to be a tough ask, but energy analyst and consultant Chris Yelland got right down to work with a snapshot of South Africa’s energy availability factor which is on a downward trend. This will have to bottom out before it gets better - and the bottom hasn’t been reached yet.

*Chris Yelland dissects the risks of a total national electricity blackout. (Photo: Samora Chapman)*

But like JP Landman’s presentation, Chris also offered a silver lining, as he urged the forestry sector to “take ownership of your own energy future”.

Basically, the private sector must get involved in energy generation, and the forestry sector is in the right space to achieve significant energy independence.

“If you are waiting for government to do it you will wait a long time. What is the forestry sector bringing to the table in terms of energy generation capacity?”

But he also shed some light on the dark side of the energy equation - a total national blackout – and offered some slightly comforting news to balance this very uncomfortable prospect.

Chris explained that a ‘blackout’ is caused by a major disturbance on the national grid, and it can happen in one second. It is not a gradual thing. For example if the line to the Western Cape trips and a power unit at Koeberg goes down simultaneously … unlikely but it is possible.

He said the level of load shedding currently being experienced is not an indicator of the likelihood of a total blackout. However it has had a galvanising effect and we are now much better prepared for this eventuality than we were when load shedding began a few years ago.

“Even though the probability of a national blackout is very low, the consequences are so severe that even the insurance companies won’t cover them.”

A blackout could last for a few days, or a week, or even four weeks. The consequences of an extended blackout are not pretty:-

• No power, no lights, no refrigeration
• No cash, no banks, ATMs or card machines
• No food, shops close
• Petrol stations close, no petrol, no diesel
• Mobile phones and telecom towers go flat
• Standby generators run out of diesel
• Transportation grinds to a halt
• No water in the taps
• Social unrest and looting spreads
• Infrastructure theft and vandalism
• Anarchy.

He presented three national blackout scenarios, which will determine the severity of the consequences that follow:-

Scenario 1 – OPTIMISTIC – First up in 2 hours; last up in 1 week.
Islanding of key power stations works perfectly
No failures in restoration, which works perfectly
Impact of civil unrest and looting not a factor.

Scanario 2 – REALISTIC – First up in 2 hours, last up in 2 weeks.
Some failures in islanding and restoration
Hampered by some unrest and looting but no electrical infrastructure damaged.

Scenario 3 – PESSIMISTIC – extended blackout lasts up to 4 weeks.
Blackout takes place at same time as Eskom labour and/or civil unrest
Significant islanding failures and major logistical reconnection issues
Line, cable, switchgear, transformer and electrical infrastructure theft and vandalism.

Applause for the keynote speakers, acknowledging the knife-edge between crisis and opportunity. *(Photo: Samora Chapman)*

While businesses (and private households) should have some contingency plans in place to mitigate the consequences of a blackout, the focus of our efforts should rather be on taking control of our own energy requirements.

“The agricultural sector (including forestry) has a key role to play and should announce measurable, new self-generation targets … You are the solution, you need to take responsibility for your own energy requirements,” he concluded.

Celebrating International Day of Biological Diversity

Forestry South Africa (FSA) celebrates International Day of Biological Diversity (Monday 22 May 2023) with a video that emphasises the need to take action to conserve biological diversity for future generations and the role multifunctional landscapes can play...

The South African forestry landscape is a multifunctional environment, where grasslands, indigenous forests, wetlands, rivers and streams weave their way between the productive forestry compartments. These natural spaces provide important habitats and migratory routes for all kinds of species, some of which are endangered and others that are only found in South Africa (endemic). These natural corridors are important, enabling the free movement of species both within the forestry landscape and between conservation areas that neighbour it. When these unplanted natural areas are managed in a way that promotes biodiversity, they can play a really important role in the conservation of both individual species and whole ecosystems.

"Across the forestry landscape, there are over 170 000 hectares of grasslands, with their associated wetlands and pans, and over 60 000 hectares of indigenous forests, all of which are sustainably managed by forestry companies. Very few Agri-sector businesses would leave 30% of their landholdings unplanted, however, in forestry this is common practice and as a result, the forestry landscape is made up of a mosaic of planted compartments and natural spaces. FSA is intensely proud of the onus forestry companies place on being custodians of the natural spaces found within their landholdings and the role these are having in maintaining and preserving biodiversity." – FSA Head of Communication and Director of Research and Protection, Dr Ronald Heath.

The Forestry Sector provides the perfect example of how it's possible to incorporate environmental stewardship into a production landscape without compromising on productivity. This not only benefits biological diversity, but it also produces a patchwork landscape that provides all manner of recreational activities that benefit our mental and physical health. FSA commissioned this video in celebration of the International Day of Biological Diversity to encourage other land users to take a multifunctional landscape approach when planning their management activities. We hope this will inspire them to do their bit in conserving South Africa's precious biodiversity for future generations to come.

"We are only now realising the true extent of the impact human activity is having on our planet. The dramatic loss in global biodiversity combined with the changing weather patterns attributed to climate change, are a warning to us all that now is the time to act. Small changes make big differences and if we all take responsibility now, as individuals and companies, we still have time to reverse these worrying trends. We have gone past the point where biodiversity can be conserved in dedicated nature reserves alone, we need to adopt a multifunctional landscape approach where production landscapes are managed in a sustainable way that promotes environmental and social benefits alongside economic gains. The video illustrates this, showcasing the important role multifunctional landscapes play in the conservation of biological diversity and how adopting this approach can make a big difference", Dr Heath concludes.

Visit the FSA website: Forestry South Africa | Forestry South Africa Official Site

*Video shot and edited by SA Forestry / Green Forest Films

Pursuing opportunities in a struggling economy – Notes from FSA’s 20th AGM

The ‘A’ team (L-R) Themba Vilane (Mondi, FSA Chairperson), Mike Peter (FSA Executive Director) and Andrew Mason (FSA Vice-Chair).

Forestry South Africa held its 20th Annual General Meeting in the KZN midlands recently, hosting a ‘live’ event attended by around 70 members and guests (numbers were limited due to COVID regulations) and many more who attended the virtual event.

Despite the fact that forestry in South Africa has been rocked by a string of disruptive events in the past few years, including the COVID pandemic and lockdown, riots and looting in KZN, freight rail and port disruptions, then floods in KZN again, the general mood at the AGM was positive and upbeat as stakeholders focused on tackling the challenges and finding solutions.

In his opening address FSA Executive Director Michael Peter said that the FSA team is working well with their Public Private Growth Initiative (PPGI) partners and making progress in addressing the major challenges confronting the forestry sector.

Likewise guest speakers Dr Azar Jammine of Econometrix and logistics consultant Ian Bird unpacked the problems we face across South Africa’s social, political and economic landscape, but pointed out the many opportunities that exist to turn it around, as well as some concrete steps being taken to do just that.

Themba Vilane, head of Mondi Forests in SA, is taking over from Busisiwe Mnguni as FSA Chairperson, while his deputy is well known KZN tree farmer Andrew Mason.

Mike Peter, Busi Mnguni of the Small Grower Group and outgoing FSA Chair, and incoming Chair Themba Vilane, head of Mondi Forests in SA.

In her address, outgoing chairperson Busi Mnguni of the KZN Small Grower Group, revealed that the failed insurrection and looting spree that spread across KZN and parts of Gauteng in mid-2021 cost the Forest Sector around R656 million in physical damages and lost production. Before this unfortunate event the forestry industry was on track to record its best year since 2018 in terms of timber sales, which says a lot for the resilience of the sector.

Despite these disruptions, the industry recorded total timber sales of 13 153 million tons in 2021 – some 13% up on the volumes achieved in 2019.

Other noteworthy achievements notched up by the hard-working FSA team include:-

• Positive changes to the diesel rebate system
• Increasing FSA membership to well over 95% of timber growers in SA
• Securing access to state funding to support black participants in forestry
• Securing high court judgements in industry’s favour on Genus-exchange and the protection of water use rights.

Incoming FSA chairperson Themba Vilane revealed that the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) has approved FSA’s third round application for Sector Innovation Funding, in the amount of R 35,2m over four years. This success is due in no small part to the efforts of FSA’s Research and Protection Director, Dr Ronald Heath, with the support of the Research Advisory Committee, as well as the efforts of FSA’s partners in the PPGI.

Coupled with the R24m secured from the DSI in the first round of SIF funding and R11m in the second round, this means that FSA has secured R 70m from DSI over the past seven years!

The funding will be utilised in line with FSA’s funding framework which focuses on forest protection and sustainability.

Keynote speaker Dr Azar Jammine of Econometrix laid bare the dire state of the South African economy, but also offered a glimpse of optimism … it can be turned around!

Dr Azar Jammine, Director and Chief Economist at Econometrix, spelled out the dire state of the South African economy, which has a projected growth rate for 2022 of 1.9% - one of the lowest in the world. 35%-46% unemployment, a growing chasm between the haves and the have nots and a deepening technological divide, has led to a huge reliance on social relief. Capital investment has dropped to 13% of GDP (from 19% in 2014), and the lack of infrastructure development has had a crippling effect on the economy, he said.

Notwithstanding the fact that we have a ‘challenging’ economy, Dr Jammine said a lot can still be achieved if government can make the right moves.

“Hopefully President Ramaphosa will get a second term in office and have more freedom to implement the necessary structural reforms to spark an economic recovery, which would take a few years to manifest,” he said.

Ian Bird, Logistics Executive of Smartvest Investment, outlined the poor levels of service on the country’s freight rail lines as well as the ports, which is of critical importance for the competitiveness of the forestry industry. Problems on the ‘Wood Owl’ line which hauls timber from Mpumalanga and northern KZN to Richards Bay, as well as the branch lines serving the forest sector, have resulted in rail usage declining steadily over the past few years, and road usage increasing.

Guest speaker Ian Bird (Logistics Executive for SMARTVEST Investments) had some exciting news regarding proposals for private sector participation on the coal line that hauls timber from central forestry regions to Richards Bay.

This has had the effect of increasing the costs of logistics while negatively impacting the road infrastructure.

Meanwhile he said that Transnet’s rail network is hugely under-utilised and ripe for private sector investment.

Transnet Freight Rail has eventually come around to this way of thinking, he says, and has offered two-year slots to the private sector to supply locomotives and wagons on the main Jhb to Durban container line. However he believes that these slots are too short-term to be viable in their present form.

He says that FSA is putting together a Rail Committee that will pursue opportunities for private sector participation in the coal line that is used by the Wood Owl train that hauls timber from the central forestry regions to the Richards Bay mills. Transnet has been receptive to the initiative for 3rd party access, and the operational head of Transnet’s rail line will be part of that committee. The initiative has been well received by stakeholders and he is optimistic that solutions will be forthcoming.

He says the forest sector has 4.5 million tons of timber a year available for train freight, which constitutes 7% to 8% of Transnet’s general freight cargo, which shows that we are not an insignificant stakeholder. Current timber volumes being transported on rail are 1.9 million tons a year.

The immediate plan is for the private sector to provide locomotives to pull Transnet wagons on the Wood Owl. This would overcome the problem of unavailability of locomotives which has been at the heart of the recent freight train service disruptions on the coal line.

The longer term solution would be for private operators to supply locomotives, drivers and wagons, while leasing the rail line from Transnet.

Private sector participation in freight rail and port handling will happen, there’s no turning back, said Ian.
“An exciting new era in structural reforms beckons.”