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We recently announced our interim results. These results were underpinned by the continued strong demand for Grindrod’s logistics solutions through our cargo terminals, infrastructure footprint, and complementary logistics service offerings. The achievements were only possible through the commitment and drive of our people, and the enduring partnerships with key stakeholders.
We extend our gratitude to our customers for placing their trust in us. This unwavering confidence in our services has been instrumental in propelling us forward, and fueled our relentless pursuit of excellence as we strive to exceed their expectations in every aspect of our operations.
Some of the highlights include strong volume growth in our drybulk terminal facilities in Mozambique and the port of Maputo. Well done to the teams, completion of our Pemba warehouse in Northern Mozambique to serve our graphite customer, and delivery of the landing craft vessel that will serve various commercial ports on the East African seaboard aimed at servicing project cargo logistics. Our rail operation in Sierra Leonne safely hauled over ten million tonnes of iron from the Tonkolili mine to Pepel Port since restarting operations in February 2021.
The eSwatini multimodal solution, a product of collaboration between the private and public sectors is performing well. Since operations commenced in December 2021 to the end of July 2023, 928 trains have moved through this corridor, equating to over 1.6 million tonnes of cargo. A solution that was only possible through collaboration and great efforts by rail authorities in Mozambique and eSwatini.
Rail plays a pivotal role in enabling South Africa’s and Africa’s trade with the world. We are therefore pleased with the inroads we have made in collaborating with Transnet Freight Rail, Mozambique Port and Railways (CFM), Zambia Railways, eSwatini Rail, and the National Railway of Zimbabwe to move cargo on trains seamlessly between various jurisdictions. Investing in rolling stock and participating in crucial rail concession opportunities as an operator is a strategic imperative.
Our expansion in the container handling business includes the development of our container facility in Johannesburg from 33 000m² to 55 000m², enhancing our capacity to meet growing market demands and offering our customers more than just empty container depot services but also bulk minerals packing and full container storage.
Congratulations to my colleagues who recently graduated after completing various programmes, ranging from artisan courses to management development courses to degrees and diplomas. More than 100 people throughout Grindrod graduated this year.
We constantly look at the future and find innovative ways of adapting to an ever-changing world. This includes focusing on alternative green commodities and ensuring that we adopt sustainable processes in our operations. Our SHERQ team recently introduced a power-saving solution in Komatipoort, a new recycling initiative in Richards Bay, and will be introducing an innovative water-saving system in some of our facilities.
Thank you to our customers, our people, and our business partners for being instrumental in our success story.