Tanzania’s coal has penetrated the European market, thanks to a contract between Ruvuma Coal Ltd. and Hong Kong-based Kenexon Co. Through the one-year contract, the companies yesterday transported 60,000 mt of coal to the Netherlands.
The consignment was transported on ship known as Southern Cross that docked at the Mtwara Port. Mtwara branch manager for Ruvuma Coal Ltd., Saidi Gadafi , said consignment brings the total volume of coal trans-ported outside the country to 300,000 mt since the two firms inked the deal several months ago. “The product has been transported to China and India,” he said.
He said the development was testament to the fact that a number of industries in the world were now aware of the availability of coal in Tanzania and that they were in discussions with various companies for new business prospects.
“We are grateful to the government for improving the port infrastructure,” Gadafi said. “In the past, we could transport only once in every three months but with facility improvement at the port, we have been receiving two to three ships for the purpose every month.”
The company said it now sells coal to India, China, Senegal, Egypt and now Europe.
The acting director of marketing and public relations at Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), Nicodemus Mushi, said the Southern Cross ship has recorded the highest volume of coal to be transported at once from Mtwara Port.
“This 59,960 mt is the highest single volume to be transported from Mtwara Port. We have now reached more international market,” Mushi said. “This coal is now heading to Amsterdam, Netherlands.”
