Hello,There is mega rail project under study in Africa. The state-owned rail companies of Botswana and Mozambique are preparing to build an estimated $7-billion transport project that would include one of Africa's longest railways and a deepwater port on the Indian Ocean, south of Maputo. A recent agreement between the two governments calls for the scheme to include private financing, but backing has not yet been secured.Dates:Preparatory phase: to be completed by the end of 2011.Construction phase: to take place between 2012 and 2015To raise project financing, the two governments have agreed to lease both the port and railway to the private sector. "If there is no interest from private investors, then there will be no problem arranging public investment because the project justifies this," claims Mozambique's transport minister, Paulo Zucula.A number of private consortiums are looking at funding and building the line of which one is believed to be Chinese.The project will reduce Botswana's dependence on South Africa as a transit country for its mineral exports, according to BR Chairman Taolo Sebonego. "[It will] reduce the time Botswana takes to move its merchandise to an average of six days from [the] 22 days it currently takes," he adds.It seems a heavy haul connecting line will be built through to the coal rich Hwange region of Zimbabwe while the main line will run close to a number of projects proposed for coal fields in southern Zimbabwe.Sources:ENR Engineering newsMiningmxWe will follow this project closely. It seems like the development of South Africa's PPP projects are influencing other countries in th south of Africa like Zimbabwe and Mozambique.You can follow me also on Twitter.Regards