Transnet set to link up heavy-haul line in Botswana |
RAIL AND FREIGHT logistics giant Transnet yesterday announced that it had revived talks with Botswana Railways for the potential construction of the heavy-haul railway line in Lephalale, Limpopo, that links the two countries in Lephalale.
Transnet spokesperson Molatwane Likhethe said the discussions around the project date back more than 10 years following a concept study that suggested that the most viable option to unlock the coal reserves from Botswana would be through the construction of this railway link.
A number of Transnet railway expansion programmes which will feed into the construction of the Botswana rail network are at an execution stage, while others are at advanced planning stages, including the upgrade of the railway line from Lephalale in Limpopo to Pyramid South in Pretoria. This particular programme, which is in the construction phase, is a step towards unlocking Waterberg and Botswana coal. Botswana coal reserves are estimated at 212 billion tons.
Other projects in support of this programme include the upgrade of the electrical infrastructure on the coal heavy-haul system and the construction of the second tunnel at Overvaal in Mpumalanga.
The discussions between the two railway companies took place on the sidelines of the Mining Indaba in Cape Town this week between the chairperson of Botswana Railways, Adolph Hirschfeld, and his Transnet counterpart, Dr Popo Molefe.
The two agreed on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would cement a collaboration that would see up to 80 million tons of coal per annum from Botswana railed for export and domestic use.
Once the MOU is signed by both governments, a joint steering committee and a project team will be established to kick-start the undertaking.
“The railway link from Botswana to South Africa is one of the strategic initiatives that will transform the economy of the SADC region. We welcome the partnership with Transnet in making this a reality,” Hirschfeld said.
The link would also open the freight logistics channels through South Africa for exports via Maputo in Mozambique and Richards Bay.
Molefe said that Transnet was ready to collaborate with Botswana Railways to make the project a success.