Namibia’s Ministry of Works and Transport expects the 25,000 tons of rail equipment for the upgrading of the railway line between Kranzberg and Otjiwarongo to be delivered in October.
Director of Railway Infrastructure Management at the Ministry of Works and Transport, Robert Kalomho, confirmed that the contract for rail supply, amounting to 25,000 tons, has been awarded, with the first delivery expected in October.
He added that contractors for the two main earthworks are mobilising to commence with the sites already handed over by the ministry. Kalomho added that other works, goods and services components are either at the documentation or procurement stage. The project is funded by the African Development Bank for project goods, works and services funded at a cost of N$3.7 billion.
Kalomho said all 11 project components, consisting of goods, works, and services under Transport Infrastructure Improvement Project Phase I [TIIP-I], are complete. This formed part of the upgrading of the Walvis Bay to Kranzberg railway line.
He said the ministry has now started with the Transport Infrastructure Improvement Project Phase II [TIIP-II] for the Upgrading of the Kranzberg to Otjiwarongo railway section, made up of works, goods and services components.
With regard to the proposed Trans-Zambezi Railway extension to link Namibia and Zambia, he said the invitation for Request for Proposal for Transaction Advisor for PPP development of the Trans-Zambezi Railway Extension to link Namibia and Zambia closed on 5 August, and he said that bid evaluation will commence soon. The consultant was required to conduct a full feasibility study that demonstrates positive results in terms of value for money, economic benefits, poverty reduction, affordability, employment creation and social and economic impact, as well as trade facilitation between Namibia and the neighbouring countries.
The Public Private Partnership Feasibility Study Report will be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Namibian Public Private Partnership legal framework, as well as to draft a PPP agreement, and, going further into the bidding process when necessary.
On the implementation of the Africa Integrated High-Speed Railway Network (AIHSRN) in Namibia, Kalomho said there have not been many discussions or happenings at this stage.
According to the African Union, to date, the entire African railway network, estimated at about 75,000 km on a surface of 30.2 million km², translates into a density of approximately 2.5 km for 1000 km², which is far below that of other regions and the world average of 23 km for 1000 km².
Written for Railways Africa by Chamwe Kaira
