CHAMWE KAIRA
Botswana has set the 2027/28 financial year as the target for procuring contractors for the Trans-Kalahari railway project, as logistics operators are expanding their presence along the Walvis Bay–Botswana trade corridor in anticipation of increased regional cargo volumes.
Botswana President Duma Gideon Boko, delivering his State of the Nation Address, said the railway project, which had been delayed for more than a decade, was now being accelerated following the successful completion of bankable feasibility studies.
“Following the successful conclusion of both Bankable feasibility studies this year, procurement of contractors for both projects will happen during the 2027/28 financial year,” Boko said.
The announcement provides a further indication of progress on the long-planned railway, which is intended to connect Botswana’s mineral-producing areas to Namibia’s port of Walvis Bay, creating an alternative export and import route for the landlocked country.
In August, the ministry of works and transport said the feasibility study had found the proposed railway technically feasible, economically justified and capable of generating positive operating returns.
The railway is expected to provide access to major coal, copper and iron ore deposits in Botswana while strengthening Walvis Bay’s position as a regional logistics and trade hub.
The proposed financing structure is a public-private partnership concession model, although the governments involved are still expected to determine the final financing and procurement arrangements.
At the time, the ministry said procurement activities were estimated to begin in August 2026, with construction expected to follow the procurement phase.
However, it did not provide a definitive construction commencement date, citing regulatory approvals and other outstanding processes.
The railway is expected to transport coal, copper, iron ore, fuel, cement and containerised cargo.
It could also reduce Botswana’s dependence on South African ports, particularly Durban, by providing an alternative route through Namibia.
The ministry has estimated that the project could create more than 36 000 jobs in Namibia during construction and operations.
While the railway remains in the development pipeline, logistics operators are already positioning themselves to benefit from stronger trade links between Namibia and Botswana.
Sea Rail (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd told Observer Money recently that its Botswana dry port was fully operational and providing end-to-end logistics services, with the company having expanded its presence into Botswana through its holding company, Sea Rail (Pty) Ltd.
Its cargo-handling performance increased significantly during the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, with throughput reaching 23 829 tonnes between April and June 2026, compared with 8 206 tonnes during the corresponding period last year.
Sea Rail said it had not yet reported its second-quarter results but had set a full-year operational target of 145 000 tonnes for the 2026/27 financial year.
The company said the target was aimed at increasing cargo throughput, expanding its regional logistics offering and supporting growing trade along the Walvis Bay corridor.
It is also preparing for the potential impact of the Trans-Kalahari railway through investments in infrastructure and services along the route.
Sea Rail said it planned to commission a customs-clearing office at the Trans-Kalahari Border Post, while also considering the establishment of a dry port facility in Gobabis.
The proposed Gobabis facility would support the transfer of cargo between road and rail for movement between Gobabis and Walvis Bay ahead of the railway’s eventual connection into Botswana.
The company is also pursuing additional land acquisition adjacent to the port of Walvis Bay to accommodate increased bulk mineral exports.
Sea Rail said cargo moving through its logistics network included containerised general cargo, fuel and industrial and commercial goods imported into Botswana, while exports included general cargo and minerals such as copper concentrate.
Sea Rail is also planning infrastructure expansion to accommodate anticipated growth in regional trade.
The company is pursuing the development of approximately 5 000 square metres of additional under-roof warehouse storage for general and project cargo.
