Namibia Revamps Trans-Kalahari Corridor During AIRN Meeting
Namibia recently hosted the Africa Integrated Regional Network Committee of Technical Experts Meeting to discuss and follow up on the Master Plan 2033. Intervening at the Meeting, Cynthia Haimbodi, Project Coordinator at the Trans-Kalahari Railway Project Managment Office (TKR-PMO) pointed out that the original objective of to transport mainly coal has new been broadened.
“The project was initially meant to transport coal from the Mmamabula coal fields to Walvis Bay. However, with shifting global demand, the governments have repositioned the project to be more than just a coal railway. It is now being conceptualised as a developmental corridor, unlocking opportunities across multiple sectors to support the economies of both Namibia and Botswana.”
Transkalahari Corridor Project Coordinator Cynthia Haimbodi
In addition to coal the TKC will also haul include copper, iron ore, manganese, lithium, soda ash, cement, fuel, grain and containers in view of the new situation. The expansion and diversification of the scope of services will bolster the viability and resilience against market volatility.
The TKC project is current at the feasibility study stage. CPCS has been appointed in March 2025 to conduct the studies which is expected to be ready by April 2026. The scope of the study covers traffic projection, technical design, route options, financing structures, and environment assessments. Construction can then kick off by May 2027.
It is envisaged to implement the Project via a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). In that regard, Namibia has enacted the necessary framework since 2017 via the PPP Act. Based on the pre-feasibility report, the estimated cost of the project varies from USD 11 to 12 billion, depending on whether Cape or Standard Gauge is used.
The Trans-Kalahari Railway connects the seaport Port Walvis in Namibia to Mmamabula in Botswana and is about 1600 to 1900 kilometers in length. Eventually it will extend into Mozambique to reach the seaport of Maputo opening into the Indian Ocean.The project is aligned with the AIRN Master Plan, the SADC regional integration objectives and the AU Agenda 2063.
The TKC is one of the projects which will be presented at the upcoming Financing Summit for African Infrastructure. The Summit is jointly organized by the African Union Commission (AUC)and African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and scheduled to take place in Luanda, Angola, from 28 to 31 October 2025.