Botswana to connect South Africa’s coalfields with heavy haul railway

Botswanan government is all set to construct a new heavy haul railway after reviewing the requirement to connect Mmamabula area with South Africa’s Lephalale coalfields.

Dorcas Makgato, Botswana’s Minister of Transport and Communications opined that the project is intended at connecting coal deposits in both areas with South African heavy haul lines. Once the project is accomplished, it could be a gateway to South African ports for the coal market and link Botswana’s mines to the Transnet Freight Rail network.

“In order to unlock regional growth, a corridor approach is a must. The proposed link between Mmamabula in Botswana and Lephalale in South Africa would stimulate the economies of Botswana and South Africa,” Dorcas Makgato said. “The proposed link between Mmamabula in Botswana and Lephalale in South Africa would stimulate the economies of Botswana and South Africa,” the Minister added.

The Minister further termed the general development of the proposed infrastructure as a key to the development of regional integration and trade between Botswana and South Africa. The Mmamabula–Lephalale corridor will create an alternative route for exportation of commodities in and outside the two states, Construction Review Online reported.

“Our Economy cannot exist on its own. A link will boost the economies of both two nations as well as the region,” Makgato said. Hence, according to the Minister, there is a requirement for the nation to concentrate and pump out funds in developing infrastructure and equipment that could move coal resource to the market. Both the governments have already worked together fantastically while the private sector was expressing more interest in the development.