Transnet signs 10-year manganese rail deal with UMK

Transnet and United Manganese of Kalahari (UMK) have signed a 10-year deal that will see manganese transported by rail from UMK’s Northern Cape mine to South African ports for export. The agreement, signed on 16 July 2025, makes UMK the first major miner to conclude a contract under the third phase of Transnet’s Manganese Export Capacity Allocation (Meca) programme.

Meca is Transnet’s long-term initiative to allocate rail and port capacity to manganese producers – and the agreement is expected to support Transnet’s broader growth and reform strategy in the freight logistics sector.

“We are encouraged by the vote of confidence expressed by UMK through their long-term commitment,” said Transnet group chief executive Michelle Phillips. “This agreement is a clear demonstration of our customers’ confidence in the efficiency and reliability of our services. It also bodes well for Transnet’s growth and sustainability, which is underpinned by our ambitious Reinvent for Growth Strategy.”

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UMK CEO Malcolm Curror said dependable freight services remain vital to the mining sector and the country’s broader economy. “By enabling the efficient movement of bulk commodities such as manganese, MECA not only positively adds to our national export capability but also to a greater competitive revitalisation of the country’s logistics network.”

He added that the agreement holds “significant and broader relevance to current national dialogue regarding the mining sector in South Africa”.

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