Shipping and logistics group Grindrod is forming a joint venture with investment group RBT Resources to expand its Navitrade terminal at Richards Bay, Reuters has reported.

Richards Bay, Africa’s largest export terminal, has a maximum design capacity of 91 million tons a yea,r but according to the Grindrod's Freight Services chief executive Dave Rennie, junior companies have a difficult time acquiring slots.

“The market focus of the JV is to service broad-based black economic empowerment mining companies, including junior miners, by providing them commodity export capacity ... a facet of their businesses that is currently very challenging,” Rennie said.

Under the joint venture plan, Grindrod's Navitrade terminal will be upgraded from its current 3Mtpa capacity to handle 20Mtpa as it aims to open up slots for new entrants.

Grindrod will have a 49.9% stake in the JV and RBT will hold 50.1%.

RBT commercial director Thabiso Buku told Reuters the cost to develop the fully mechanised coal export terminal would be in excess of 2 billion rand ($US192 million).

“We expect to break ground in the first quarter of 2014 and ramp up to 20Mt a year over the next three to five years on a phased basis,” Buku said.

The JV would also involve the development of an inland coal hub to allow junior miners the chance to consolidate their volume to make their small product more cost-efficient to export, Rennie said.

Anglo American, BHP Billiton, Exxaro and Glencore Xstrata are some of Richard’s Bay’s major owners.