Namibian companies depict strong interest for Trans-Kalahari Railway Project

The Trans-Kalahari Railway Project Management Office (TKR-PMO) has revealed that 12 companies/groups submitted expressions of interest to develop the Trans-Kalahari Railway between Botswana and Namibia as a public-private partnership.

The 12 companies/groups are:
•    NGE Contracting (France)
•    Orascom Construction (Egypt)
•    Lesedi Nehawu Investment JV (South Africa)
•    Helo Group (Namibia)
•    West Coast Energy (Namibia)
•    Mega North Holdings (Namibia)
•    China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (China)
•    Fullbright Investment (Namibia)
•    Grindrod (Namibia)
•    Rail Vikas Nigam (India)
•    Trans-Kalahari Railway Initiative Consortium (Namibia/South Africa)
•    Nations Capital Projects / SevenFive Investments CC (South Africa)

The deadline for submissions was 9 November.

The TKR-PMO is looking to execute the project under a design, build, finance, operate, maintain, and transfer contract model.

Investors would fund the feasibility study and develop the proposed new railway corridor and/or upgrade the existing railway between the two countries.

The railway will run for about 1,500km from the coalfields at Mmamabula in Botswana to the port of Walvis Bay in Namibia.

The TKR-PMO said in its tender documentation that potential investors are encouraged to consider other economic enablers such as upcoming mining projects, agricultural products and activities, construction, manufacturing and other cargo to improve the economic and financial viability and sustainability of the scheme, in line with the strategy to reposition it as a regional corridor development project.

According to the timeline published by TKR-PMO, the prequalification stage will now run from December to February. The request for proposals will be issued in March. The development phase is expected to begin in January 2025.

The TKR-PMO is based in Windhoek, Namibia.