Railways Africa

An agreement was to have been signed between Botswana and Namibia during April, dealing with the construction of a new 1,500km Trans-Kalahari railway from Botswana’s Mmamabula coalfield to the port of Walvis Bay. Feasibility studies were completed on 2012 under the auspices of the World Bank, the estimated cost of the project being in the [...]

According to Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) executive manager for international business Nyameka Madikizela, the railway expects to begin carrying coal from the Morupule Colliery near Palapye in Botswana to Durban during May or June. In terms of an agreement due to be signed with Botswana shortly, two 35-wagon trains are to run weekly. Test runs [...]

Bamangwato Concessions Ltd (BCL) at Selibe Phikwe in Botswana has put one of the two recently acquired South African 4-8-2 class 19D steam locomotives into service. It is understood the second is to follow during the course of the year. BCL has operated similar 4-8-2 class 19 locos ex-Zimbabwe for many years. The mine excavates [...]

At a press conference on 30 May, outgoing permanent secretary of the Namibian ministry of works and transport George Simataa clarified the status of the proposed Trans-Kalahari Railway through Botswana, dismissing as groundless perceptions that the development has been taken over by Zimbabwe and Mozambique. As far as the Namibian government is concerned, the project [...]

Coal mined in Botswana will have to be moved to the coast – for export to India or China – on a new “heavy gauge” railway independent of South Africa, according to Professor Roman Greynberg, senior research fellow at the Botswana Institute of Development Policy Analysis. Writing in the Zimbabwe Independent, he explains:“Cecil Rhodes’ narrow [...]

Following the concept study in September that confirmed the viability of Botswana’s Sese coal project, African Energy Resources has begun bulk sampling work. According to the earlier findings, extraction of up to 1 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) in a first-stage initial operation could generate cash flow with effect from 2013 through selling washed coal [...]

African Energy Resources (AER) has received promising results from a concept study – by a number of independent consultants – at the Sese Coal Project in Botswana which confirms technical and commercial viability. Positive cash flow is predicted from year one of a 1 million tonnes per annum (mta) operation “with strong cash flows and [...]

During a meeting with Botswana vice-president Mompati S Merafhe on 19 September, India’s minister of state for commerce and industry Jyotiraditya Scindia offered his country’s assistance in developing and strengthening the rail network as well as other modes of transport in Botswana. Scindia, who was on an official visit, emphasised the need for diversifying and [...]

On 8 September, 19D loco 2689 was seen near Klerksdorp en route by road to Botswana. Dr John Middleton explains: “We understand two 19D’s from the Jan Kempdorp dump have been sold to BCL Selebi Pikwe for overhaul and use by the mine there which still operates 19Ds. Not clear yet who will do the [...]

According to Mozambican transport minister Paulo Zucula, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana have signed a memorandum of understanding in respect of a proposed $US7 billion port and rail project. A new deepwater harbour is to be constructed in southern Mozambique, connected to Botswana by a new railway through Zimbabwe. It is hoped to begin work in [...]