National rail company TransNamib aims to nearly triple its cargo-carrying capacity to four million tonnes within the next five years from approximately 1.5 million tonnes per year, a new report has revealed.
According to a report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economic and Public Administration, TransNamib faces an uphill battle in achieving the ambitious plan due to aging running stock. TransNamib’s railway fleet comprises 78 locomotives and an array of approximately 1,500 wagons.
“Currently, TransNamib keeps 23 to 26 locomotives operational on a daily basis. To ensure optimal profitability and operational efficiency, the ideal requirement is a daily fleet of 34 locomotives. Unfortunately, the company currently operates with only 24 locomotives due to constraints stemming from a lack of essential equipment and spare parts,” says the report.
“The low number of available locomotives is attributed to their age (most are 50 to 60 years old). This is leading to frequent breakdowns and the existence of a maintenance backlog that needs to be addressed. This backlog has persisted over the past 10 years, primarily due to a scarcity of parts for the maintenance of the locomotives.”
In terms of maintenance and funding backlog, the Committee Chaired by Natangwe Ithete highlighted that on locomotives only, TransNamib faces a yearly funding backlog of N$135 million for spare parts and maintenance, with an immediate annual cost of N$40 million.
It was further established that the locomotives in service are significantly beyond their expected lifespan, a situation that has made them increasingly unreliable.
“Procuring spare parts is a persistent challenge, exacerbated by extended delivery times, which can be as long as six to 12 months. These delays impact the efficiency and timeliness of service delivery.”
Still on procurement matters, the Parliamentary Committee reported that despite the acquisitions of 17 SSD locomotives in 2017, only one is currently operational.
This is mainly due to control system problems, a lack of spare parts, and insufficient knowledge transfer. Empowering and capacitating local expertise is deemed necessary to reduce dependency on foreign sources.
“However, re-manufacturing one locomotive has been undertaken, and the same process is needed for 10 more.”
TransNamib maintains a network of vital cargo routes crucial for the efficient transportation of essential goods and commodities, contributing significantly to the nation’s infrastructure and trade.
Key routes include Walvis Bay to Tsumeb, Ondangwa, and Grootfontein (minerals, fuel, cement, and ballast).
The Walvis Bay to Windhoek route is dedicated to the transportation of fuel, playing a critical role in ensuring a consistent supply of this essential resource to the nation’s capital.
The Windhoek to Hosea Kutako International Airport route is instrumental in providing a seamless and efficient channel for the transportation of jet fuel to the airport.
The other route is between Ariamsvlei to Lüderitz to freight Manganese.
“These routes are the lifeblood of TransNamib’s cargo transportation operations, ensuring the continued movement of essential commodities throughout Namibia and beyond. The efficiency and reliability of these routes are pivotal in supporting the nation’s economic activities and development,” the report stated.
In terms of staffing, TransNamib maintains an extensive workforce, boasting a robust complement of 1,200 dedicated personnel across its subsidiaries of Swakopmund Station Hotel, GPT TransNamib, and Namibia Rail Construction.
The Parliamentary Committee compiled this report following site visitations to assess TransNamib operations and infrastructure, in Erongo, Khomas, //Kharas and Hardap regions.
“This visit allowed for a deeper understanding of TransNamib’s operational landscape and underscored the company’s dedication to bolstering its role in the region’s transportation and logistics sectors. It further highlighted the essential role of adequate equipment and resources in achieving the company’s ambitious cargo transportation targets, aligning with Namibia’s broader economic development objectives,” the report noted.
