The governments of Botswana and Namibia are advancing the Trans-Kalahari Railway project towards procurement following feasibility work, the rail corridor connects Botswana’s rail network to Namibia’s Walvis Bay port through the Kalahari region, supporting regional freight transport and access to international markets. 

The preferred Copperbelt Corridor alignment would provide Botswana’s mineral exports with a direct rail link to Walvis Bay, while establishing a new regional freight route for commodities including coal, copper, iron ore, fuel, cement and containerised cargo.

The project is now moving towards the procurement phase. While the feasibility study has demonstrated its technical and economic viability, the parties must still finalise the public-private partnership (PPP) framework, obtain the necessary regulatory approvals and establish the procurement process before construction can commence. For Namibia, the railway could further strengthen the strategic role of Walvis Bay Port in regional trade and freight movements across Southern Africa.

The proposed Trans-Kalahari Railway is expected to span approximately 1,850 km, with an estimated capital investment of US$8 billion. The Copperbelt Corridor has been identified as the preferred route, with a PPP concession being considered as the development model. Procurement is expected to advance once the financing framework and regulatory arrangements are finalised. The railway is planned to handle a range of freight, including coal, copper, iron ore, fuel, cement and containerised cargo, while providing Botswana with an alternative export route to international markets via Namibia’s Port of Walvis Bay.

The Trans-Kalahari Railway is part of wider regional initiatives aimed at upgrading transport infrastructure, enhancing connectivity and improving market access through alternative trade routes. Meanwhile, Namibia is advancing the proposed Trans-Zambezi Railway, with studies assessing the project’s affordability and its potential social, environmental, and climate-related impacts. The findings of the feasibility assessment are expected to establish the project’s viability and help determine the most suitable development and PPP structure for implementing the railway.