Development of the Trans-Kalahari Project Through the Kalahari Desert

The Trans-Kalahari Project is viewed as a key initiative to build a 1,500-kilometer heavy-haul freight railway through the Kalahari Desert to export coal from Botswana. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

CPCS and Transcom, in cooperation with local partners, have launched a year-long feasibility study to assess the technical and economic potential of a route linking the Mmamabula coalfield to the port of Walvis Bay.

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Trans-Kalahari Project Infrastructure and Implementation Phases

The line is expected to carry up to 90 million tonnes of coal annually to markets in India and China. It will provide Pacific Ocean access, boost exports, and strengthen regional connectivity.

The project originated with a memorandum of understanding signed between Namibia and Botswana in 2010. By 2014, the countries signed a formal agreement to develop railway and logistics infrastructure.

The plan includes constructing a new segment from Mmamabula to Gobabis and upgrading the line through Windhoek to Walvis Bay. These efforts will enhance capacity and improve regional transport efficiency.

Economic Prospects of the Trans-Kalahari Project

Botswana proposes a public-private partnership model to implement the project, seeking international investment and support. The estimated cost is $16 billion.

The Ministry of Transport emphasizes that direct returns alone won’t justify the investment. However, long-term economic benefits are expected through the development of supply chains, trade routes, industrial hubs, and tourism.

The railway may become more than a coal corridor — it could serve as a catalyst for large-scale transformation across Southern Africa. It would reinforce the strategic positions of both Botswana and Namibia in the global market.

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