Richards Bay Coal Terminal

Johannesburg, South Africa --- MININGREVIEW.COM --- 04 September 2008 - Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) – the largest single export coal terminal in the world, currently exporting more than 68 million tonnes of coal a year – increased its shipments by 6.2% in August compared to the same month last year which was affected by bad weather.

Bloomberg News reports that the terminal – situated on the KwaZulu Natal coast – exported 5.28 million tonnes of the fuel last month, compared to 4.97 million tonnes in the same month last year, when adverse weather closed the port for 152 hours. In July this year, the terminal shipped 4.17 million tonnes.

RBCT received 5.78 million tonnes by rail during August, up from 5.44 million tonnes in July and 5.02 million tonnes in August 2007. Stockpiles were 3.84 million tonnes at the end of the month. The terminal targets stockpiles of 3 to 4 million tonnes, and has the capacity to store about 6 million tonnes.

During the month, 56 ships were loaded at the terminal and 858 trains arrived.

Richards Bay Coal is owned by South Africa's biggest coal exporters, including Anglo American plc, BHP Billiton Ltd. and Xstrata plc. While it is the world's biggest coal-export terminal, Australia's Newcastle port ships more coal from its two terminals.