Twelve companies show interest in developing Trans Kalahari Railway
Twelve companies, including China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and NGE Contracting of France, have expressed their interest in financing the feasibility study and development of the proposed Trans Kalahari Railway Line between Botswana and Namibia.
This was stated by the Trans-Kalahari Railway Project (TKR) Project Secretariat in a notice marking the closure of the Expression of Interest, the list of interested companies also features Orascom Construction of Egypt, Lesedi Nehawu Investment JV of South Africa, Helo Group of Namibia, West Coast Energy of Namibia, Mega North Holdings of Namibia, Fullbright Investment of Namibia, Grindrod of Namibia, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited of India, Trans-Kalahari Railway Initiative Consortium (registered in Namibia and South Africa), and Nations Capital Projects PTY (LTD) / SevenFive Investments CC of South Africa.
The notice specified that the companies present for the closing of the Expression of Interest included West Coast Energy, Mega North Holdings, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, Fullbright Investment, Grindrod, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, and the Trans-Kalahari Railway Initiative Consortium.
The proposed railway is designed to transport 14 million tons annually in its inaugural year, with plans to increase capacity to 56 million tons per annum by its 30th year. These details are outlined in the Expressions of Interest (EOI) documents issued by Namibia and Botswana. Construction is scheduled to commence in January 2025, covering a distance of 1,500km from Mmamabula in Botswana to the Namibian port of Walvis Bay, primarily focusing on the transportation of coal and copper from Botswana.
The primary objective of the project, according to both countries, is to establish a crucial railway link connecting them and facilitating the transportation of various commodities, including fuel, iron ore, copper, and coal to and from international markets. Namibia and Botswana aim to engage an investor or developer to oversee the funding and development of the railway line.
The Trans-Kalahari Railway project is anticipated to bring significant socioeconomic benefits, enhancing the rail capacity of Botswana Railways and TransNamib Holdings Limited. Moreover, it is expected to ease the burden on regional road infrastructure, reducing the likelihood of accidents involving heavy trucks and smaller vehicles as freight transportation shifts from road to rail.
The railway line is projected to stimulate the construction of sidings to nearby mines and other business enterprises, including farms. Additionally, it may serve as an alternative route for transit traffic from the Gauteng region in South Africa to overseas markets.
The project envisions a rail link between Walvisbay/Namibia and Mammabula/Botswana by 2030, and the new lines are expected to connect at Gobabis in eastern Namibia. The envisaged container terminal at Gobabis will be developed in line with the project’s overall progress.
TransNamib, Namibia’s railway operator, has welcomed the recent initiatives surrounding the Trans Kalahari Railway project, expressing encouragement with the commitments of both the Government of Namibia and the Government of Botswana to this project, which is integral to TransNamib’s plans.
Botswana currently operates a dry port at Walvis Bay, managed by Sea Rail Botswana, a subsidiary of Botswana Railways. In 2009, Namibia offered dry ports at Walvis Bay to its landlocked neighbours, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
