Botswana Targets 2027/28 for Trans-Kalahari Railway Procurement

Botswana President Duma Gideon Boko has announced that the country aims to procure contractors for the Trans-Kalahari railway project in the 2027/28 financial year. This development comes after the successful completion of bankable feasibility studies, which found the proposed railway to be technically feasible, economically justified, and capable of generating positive operating returns. The project aims to connect Botswana's mineral-producing areas to Namibia's port of Walvis Bay, providing an alternative export and import route for the landlocked country.

The Trans-Kalahari railway project has been delayed for over a decade but is now being accelerated. 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. The railway is expected to transport coal, copper, iron ore, fuel, cement, and containerized cargo, reducing Botswana's dependence on South African ports, particularly Durban. The project could create more than 36,000 jobs in Namibia during construction and operations.

Logistics operators are already positioning themselves to benefit from stronger trade links between Namibia and Botswana. Sea Rail (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd has expanded its presence into Botswana through its holding company, Sea Rail (Pty) Ltd. The company's Botswana dry port is fully operational, providing end-to-end logistics services. 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.

Sea Rail has set a full-year operational target of 145,000 tonnes for the 2026/27 financial year, aimed at increasing cargo throughput, expanding its regional logistics offering, and supporting growing trade along the Walvis Bay corridor. The company is also preparing for the potential impact of the Trans-Kalahari railway through investments in infrastructure and services along the route. This includes commissioning a customs-clearing office at the Trans-Kalahari Border Post and 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. Sea Rail is also pursuing additional land acquisition adjacent to the port of Walvis Bay to accommodate increased bulk mineral exports. The company's cargo moving through its logistics network includes containerized general cargo, fuel, and industrial and commercial goods imported into Botswana.

Sea Rail is planning infrastructure expansion to accommodate anticipated growth in regional trade. The company is pursuing the development of approximately 5,000 square meters of additional under-roof warehouse storage for general and project cargo. This expansion will enable Sea Rail to support growing trade along the Walvis Bay corridor and capitalize on the potential benefits of the Trans-Kalahari railway project.

The Trans-Kalahari railway project is expected to have a significant impact on the regional economy, providing an alternative route for Botswana's exports and imports. The project's progress is being closely watched by logistics operators, who are positioning themselves to benefit from the increased trade opportunities. With the procurement of contractors targeted for 2027/28, the project is expected to move forward in the coming years.

Key points

• The Trans-Kalahari railway project aims to connect Botswana's mineral-producing areas to Namibia's port of Walvis Bay, providing an alternative export and import route for the landlocked country.