Economic transportation influenced by development and environmental issues

SYNOPSIS. The South African Iron and Steel Corporation, Iscor Limited, wish to develop a coal mine in Venda, an independent state in the extreme north east of South Africa. The coal mine would need a private railway of 125 km to link the mine to the Spoornet main railway line. The consultants engineering studies and design were aimed at providing the greatest benefits to Venda where development is essential. The consultants carried out an environmental impact assessment of the proposed railway corridor which resulted in major deviations from the most economically viable alignment.

The South African Iron and Steel Corporation Limited, Iscor, have expanded an existing pilot coal mine at Tshikondeni in Venda from 1000 tons per week to 3000 tons per week. The labour force is predominantly Vavenda (the people of Venda), as it is Iscor1 s policy to assist local development wherever possible. This particular coal field has the highest grade of metallurgical coal in Southern Africa, and when blended with the normal grades of metallurgical coal results in a dramatic improvement to the output of the blast furnaces at the steelworks.