July 18 (Reuters) - South Africa can boost coal shipments to ports after last year's record decline if it secures locomotives that were idled following a dispute with a key Chinese supplier, South Africa's state-owned rail and ports operator said on Tuesday. Transnet Freight Rail CEO Sizakele Mzimela said resolving an impasse with China's CRRC E-Loco could help it ramp up shipments to about 81 million metric tons of the fuel to ports. South Africa's shipments fell to about 50 million metric tons last year, the lowest on record, as a workers' strike, floods, cable thefts and vandalism of vital infrastructure plagued Transnet's operations. The lack of locomotives means Transnet is failing to move 18.5 million metric tons of coal per year, Mzimela said. Transnet aims to rail about 60 million metric tons this year and could raise capacity to 74 million metric tons by March 2024 and ultimately 81 million metric tons in 2026 if the Chinese locomotive deal is restored.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 19, 2023 03:55 UTC