Namibia and Botswana have reaffirmed their commitment to the development of the multibillion-dollar Trans-Kalahari Railway project, which aims to link Botswana’s rich coal fields to the Namibian coast.
The latest meeting was held between Namibia’s Works and Transport Minister John Mutorwa and Botswana Transport and Public Works Minister Eric Molale.
The Ministers called for the speedy implementation of the project, which is expected to boost trade and tourism, while contributing to employment creation in both countries.
They agreed to capacitate the project management office as a matter of urgency and approved its operational budget, agreed to establish a technical team from TransNamib and Botswana Railways to advance the project.
The 1,447-kilometre railway line project which was conceived in 2010 with the commissioning of the feasibility study and bilateral agreement signed in 2014, will run from Mmamabula, Rasesa, towards Phuduhudu, following the Trans-Kalahari Highway through Mamuno border into Namibia, then Gobabis, Windhoek, Okahandja, to Walvis Bay as the final destination.
This comes as Namibia’s railway operator will cooperate with Botswana Railways to grow freight volumes between Walvis Bay and Gobabis to support imports/exports for Botswana with the support of the dry port.
The partnership means commodities destined for Botswana will be transported by rail from Walvis Bay to Gobabis, from where they would be transported by road to Botswana and the same will apply to commodities from Botswana being exported through the Port of Walvis Bay.
TransNamib CEO Johny Smith last month told Reuters that the company plans to move around 50,000 tonnes of coal a month off trucks carrying it from coal mines in Botswana and onto the trains at Gobabis, with a service between Walvis Bay and Gobabis expected to resume soon.
The two rail companies have signed an agreement which will see Botswana Railways investing in the upgrading of the Gobabis Station warehousing facilities.
