By Bongiwe Dlamini

MBABANE:Victor Ndlovu,the Managing Director of the Ngwenya Iron Ore Mine says, operations were delayed by ongoing engagements on whether to use logistics companies or Eswatini Railway services to transport the mineral to Mozambique seaport.

Speaking to this Swaziland News on Tuesday evening when asked to clarify if the Mine “is still operational”, the Managing Director said operations were delayed by engagements with Government regarding logistics.

“Government is concerned that once we start transporting the mineral, the roads will be flooded with trucks and, there’s an option to dump the trucks and use railway services. It will cost us over R200million per-year to use trucks and over R100million to use the railway. So it’s cheaper to use railway and Government is considering that. As a Mine, we don’t have a problem using trucks but, even if Government can opt from the railway, there’s no railway from Ngwenya to Maputo. So we will use trucks to deliver at the Railway Station”, said the Managing Director when speaking to editor Zweli Martin Dlamini.

Ndlovu said using trucks owned by emaSwati will benefit more businesses but, using railway services will benefit a few. But the Managing Director said, a decision will be taken after the ongoing engagements.