Chamwe Kaira  Botswana’s minister of transport and infrastructure and co-chair of the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) of the Trans-Kalahari Railway (TKR) project, Noah Salakae, says the railway is too important to fail. He made the remarks during the recent Joint Ministerial Committee meeting in Maun.  “If the feasibility numbers do not immediately convince financiers, we must not fold our arms. We must innovate, adapt, and build the partnerships that will make it happen,” said Salakae. The governments of Namibia and Botswana signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2010 to develop the Trans-Kalahari Railway.  In 2014, they signed a bilateral agreement for the construction of the 1 500 km line, including coal storage, loading, and other facilities to support economic activities along the route and at its terminals. Salakae urged technocrats to explore innovative financing options, blending public, private, and development capital, to make the project viable once the detailed feasibility study is completed.  He described rail infrastructure as the backbone of integrated markets, adding that access to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could generate jobs and skills to support economic diversification, poverty reduction, and inclusive growth. Namibia’s minister of works and transport and co-chair of the JMC, Veikko Nekundi, said the project is more than just a railway, calling it a strategic tool to unlock regional trade, create jobs, and stimulate investment across Namibia, Botswana, and beyond. He welcomed the progress of the feasibility study and called for commitment to its delivery.  “As we will be approaching the next phase of securing private sector investment, finalising financial models and ensuring regulatory and operational readiness, let us remain committed to delivering this project through a transparent public-private partnership that brings value to our nations,” said Nekundi. The two governments continue to meet bilaterally to address risks and obstacles that could delay the project. The Trans-Kalahari Railway will link Walvis Bay in Namibia with Gaborone in Botswana. It is designed to support regional trade and growth by providing a cost-effective route for goods, with a focus on transporting coal from Botswana’s Mmamabula coalfields to Walvis Bay.  The plan is to export around 90 million tonnes of coal annually to India and China. Caption Minister of works and transport, Veikko Nekundi. * Photo: Contributed 

Botswana and Namibia Advance Trans-Kalahari Railway Project  Namibia Economist

In an effort to increase regional connectivity and stimulate economic development, the Botswana government and Namibia government reiterated their joint commitment to supporting the Trans-Kalahari Railway (TKR) project. This was after a joint Ministerial Committee meeting in Maun, Botswana, on August 15, 2025, when Botswana Transport and Infrastructure Minister Noah

Botswana and Namibia Reaffirm Commitment to Trans-Kalahari Railway for Regional Growth  Travel And Tour World

Chamwe Kaira CPCS Transcom UK Limited has submitted the Inception Report of the Feasibility Study on the Trans Kalahari Railway for review.  The report will be discussed at the August meeting of the joint ministerial committee between Namibia and Botswana. The consultant began work on the 12-month study in April. CPCS Transcom is working with Zutari, which operates in Botswana and Namibia, as well as Bowman, a Namibian company, and other independent experts. Botswana has proposed expanding the scope of the study to include a broader vision of the railway as the Trans-Kalahari Development Corridor. Botswana’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Noah Salakae, said the project should consider a public-private partnership model.  “An approach we must continue to encourage,” he said. He added that the railway alone cannot generate enough revenue to justify its US$16 billion cost.  “Trans-Kalahari Railway as a standalone railway simply cannot generate enough revenue from transport economics alone to justify its staggering US$16 billion cost.” He said the vision must be broader. “The TKDC envisions much more than rails. It is a spine for economic transformation, encompassing logistics hubs, industrial clusters, energy infrastructure, trade zones, housing, tourism nodes, and green towns that bring opportunity and prosperity to people along its path.” Salakae said the two countries need a modern rail system that connects people and brings development.  “Botswana and Namibia need a smart rail transportation system that will pull its people from isolation, bring them close to one another, and give them work, as well as turn their quiet villages, towns and cities into thriving commercial centres and tourist destinations.” He stressed the project must support regional integration and long-term growth.  “A project of this scale and importance must go beyond rail, it must stimulate regional integration, urbanisation, and sustainable growth from coast to coast.” Botswana is also developing an infrastructure investment plan to support this goal.  “We are in the process of developing a Botswana Infrastructure Investment Plan aimed at upgrading and expanding our infrastructure ecosystem to unlock broader economic opportunities. Our objective is to transform and modernise infrastructure to ensure the efficient movement of goods and people, thereby enhancing service delivery. Sustainability remains central to our planning processes, considering both current and future challenges,” he said. The Trans-Kalahari Railway will link Walvis Bay in Namibia with Gaborone in Botswana. It is expected to support regional trade and economic growth by offering a cost-effective route for goods.  The line is mainly intended to transport coal from the Mmamabula coal fields to Walvis Bay. The plan is to export around 90 million tonnes of coal each year from Botswana to India and China.

Namibia, Botswana renew urgency on stalled Trans-Kalahari Railway Project NBC Online Mon, 05/26/2025 - 16:37