As Transnet enters the second year of its rolling seven-year Market Demand Strategy, which is aimed at improving all its operation efficiencies, the state-owned enterprise has signed a partnership with the CSIR that will give itaccess to the CSIR’s technological innovation and research capabilities.

Transnet Group chief executive, Brian Molefe, says: “For Transnet to play its rightful role in the economy, we have to grow, invest and modernise at an unprecedented rate. We need to constantly explore innovations and technological advancements and, through the CSIR, we will be able to continue to achieve this. “

CSIR CEO, Dr Sibusiso Sibisi, says: “Supporting industry is in keeping with our mandate and we are excited to be part of a series of projects that, apart from benefiting the modernisation of Transnet’s operations will assist in job creation and growing South Africa’s economy.”

This partnership will augment Transnet’s own in-house engineering and project management unit, which has an operating budget of R150 million per annum.

It will also open an office for this department at CSIR’s Innovation Hub so it can also tap into the tremendous expertise available within the CSIR.

In terms of the partnership, Transnet and the CSIR will work together in identifying possible areas of cooperation and have started work on the following areas:

• Infrastructure – rail, port and coastal engineering
• Rolling stock – looking at energy efficiency, alternative fuels and energy regeneration
• Operations – including water use, waste management systems and logistics supply chain
• Strategic decision support looking into planning, environment management system and enterprise engineering.

The partnership agreement is initially for three years, but Molefe says it will in all likelihood be extended as a continuous ongoing concern for both enterprises.

Pictured: CSIR CEO, Dr Sibusiso Sibisi & Transnet Group chief executive, Brian Molefe