Page 30 - Issue 22

30 Technically Speking

Botswana

Railways Projects

in the pipeline

r. Stephen Makuke, the Director Business Projects under development at Botswana Railways
Development for Botswana Railways gave a
Mpresentation at a recent Mining Investment 1 Mosetse-Kazungula Rail Line
Conference on the Railway Company. He spoke briefly on the
background, current facilities and the development projects Project Characteristics
that are in the pipeline. Mr Makuke explained that Botswana Provides a line from Mosetse, connecting to Zambia and
Railways (BR) is a government enterprise established beyond through the Kazungula bridge.The rail line is part of
through an act of parliament (BR Act 1986; Amended in the North South Corridor (NSC).
2004). It was mandated to provide transportation of goods
and passengers within Botswana, efficiently, safely and cost- Benefits
effectively, along sound commercial lines. Amendment of -Gate-way to North African markets promoting inter
the Act gave a provision to Botswana Railways to form Joint regional trade
Ventures, Subsidiary companies and to exploit other business -Connects North African region to maritime ports in South
opportunities such as Sea Rail. Africa
-Reduction of haulage traffic on roads
Track Infrastructure -Opportunity for tourism industry – Tourist trains
Botswana Railways has a total network of 900 km and the -Alternative transport mode for Agricultural products from
mainline has 640 km.Branch lines are 260 km with Sua branch Pandamatenga Farms in Botswana
line - 174 km, Selibe-Phikwe branch line- 56 km, Morupule Project Status - Feasibility study tender floating
branch line - 16 km and Tshele branch line (heavy haul) -14 km
2 Mmamabula-Lephalale Rail Line
Motive Power Project Characteristics
Over 200 billion tons’ coal deposits found in Botswana (at
least two thirds of Africa’s coal resource). The Project aims
to link these coal deposits to South African heavy haul lines
(Limpopo Province). The Line connects Mmamabula/Dibete
in Botswana to Lephalale in South Africa.There will be need
to build a bridge across Limpopo River.

Benefits
-Gate way to South African ports for the coal market
-Shortest route for NSC if coupled with Mosetse-Kazungula
line
-Employment opportunities for region.
-Alternative route into South Africa from BR line, which is a

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