JOHANNESBURG, April 1 (Reuters)– South Africa’s ports continue to be available to all kinds of freight in spite of an across the country 21-day lockdown though vital products need to be prioritised, the Department of Transport stated in a notification.

“(The) government has now decided that in the interest of ensuring a functional supply chain across all ports, that all cargoes will be accepted for loading and off-loading,” stated the notification, which was dated March 31.

That turned around directions sent out by port authorities to bulk terminals recently stating the export of mineral products such as copper would certainly be stopped.

That stimulated complication amongst miners in South Africa, Zambia, and also Democratic Republic of Congo over whether they would certainly have the ability to export copper and also various other minerals with South African ports.

“The Department of Transport recognises that there have been numerous instructions distributed by various entities, causing confusion amongst… service providers and shipping companies,” stated the notification, which was uploaded on the South African Maritime Safety Authority’s web site.

State ports and also trains driver Transnet will certainly reactivate particular procedures at a minimized degree, SAMSA stated.

It will certainly prioritise the container logistics system around Durban’s port and also the web link to the financial center of Gauteng, hefty haul rail and also ports export system from the Northern Cape to Saldanha Port, and also residential and also export coal with Richards Bay Port.

Coal for residential usage by power company Eskom had actually currently been identified a vital solution, yet coal exports had actually not formerly been ensured.

“The port is open, but there are restrictions. The process has been hampered due to the unavailability of people working,” stated a port authority resource at Durban, the major entrance for copper and also cobalt exports.

Some miners had actually currently made different strategies. First Quantum Minerals stated recently it was taking care of the export of its Zambian copper manufacturing with “alternate routes”.

SAMSA additionally revealed the development of a Maritime National Joint Operations Committee which would certainly work with the maritime market throughout the lockdown, combining numerous port authorities and also the transportation ministry. (Reporting by Helen Reid, Zandi Shabalala and also Pratima Desai; modifying by Jan Harvey and also Jason Neely)

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