Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager chief engineer Nkululeko Gobhozi has been elected chair of the International Heavy Haul Association for the next two years.
His appointment was announced during an IHHA board workshop held in collaboration with the South African Heavy Haul Association at the Transnet Maritime Training Centre in Cape Town on Wednesday.
The workshop brought together international railway operators and engineering specialists to discuss the use of technology to improve heavy-haul efficiency.
The appointment provided an opportunity to apply international research and best practices to South Africa’s freight rail corridors, Gobhozi said.
“This appointment comes at a defining moment in South Africa’s rail recovery journey. Leveraging this global platform allows us to actively absorb and adopt international best practices, while ensuring that cutting-edge heavy-haul research is directly translated into practical, executable solutions on our domestic rail corridors,” he pointed out.
Technological advances offered significant opportunities to improve the safety, efficiency and sustainability of heavy-haul operations, he added.
South Africa’s economic recovery was closely linked to the performance of its freight rail corridors, SAHHA chair Brian Monakali said.
“Through our active membership and newly elected leadership within the IHHA, SAHHA is ensuring local rail recovery is anchored in international best practice.”
The workshop laid the technical groundwork for the SAHHA conference in November, where the association would focus on implementing engineering solutions to challenges facing the sector, Monakali added.
South Africa had historically played a pioneering role in heavy-haul engineering, IHHA chief executive Antonio Merheb said.
“Through our partnership with SAHHA, we are committed to facilitating the transfer of international expertise and technology to support South Africa’s rail recovery journey as it progresses towards practical execution.”
The workshop included technical updates from Rio Tinto in Australia, the Indian Railway Service of Engineers, the China Railway Society, US-based MxV Rail and Brazil’s MRS Logística.
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