Botswana Railways has announced plans to construct a rolling stock maintenance facility in Mahalapye, in central Botswana.
Head of corporate communications and public affairs, Sereo Thabeng said the proposed development plot is a 30-hectare piece of land along the rail line to the south of Mahalapye.
Thabeng said the facility will leverage private sector investment. She said after a Request for Proposal (RFP) submission, the next phase will be the bankable feasibility phase, which will determine the actual cost of the project,t including the cost of construction, operation and management.
The Expression of Interest (EOI) tender was floated in 2022. Thabeng said that currently the project is at the procurement phase, where bidders are to submit a Request for Proposal (RFP) with tender closing on 26 June.
She said at this stage, five bidders have been shortlisted and are due to submit RFPs. Thabeng said the bankable feasibility phase will take approximately nine months after the close of RFP submissions, and it includes evaluation, negotiations and awarding.
The bankable feasibility study and financial close will follow, then the development phase, which is expected to take 24 months thereafter, Thabeng said.
Botswana Railways recently hosted potential investors who have been shortlisted at the EOI stage for partnership to develop the state-of-the-art heavy repair maintenance workshop.
The company said the proposed facility aims to address operational inefficiencies by providing modern, fully equipped repair capabilities tailored to Botswana Railways’ needs.
Botswana Railways said the workshop will also extend maintenance services to the mining industry and regional rail operators while fostering industrialisation, creating jobs and reducing the country's import bill. Potential investors were also taken on a tour of the 30-hectare plot allocated for development, the company said.
The company has been upgrading its fleet in preparation for the Mmamabula/Lephalale Rail Link, which will be used for goods transportation or trade exchange with South Africa. The project aims to transport cargo between the two countries.
Botswana’s other railway projects include railway connection projects with Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. With Namibia, Botswana is planning the Trans-Kalahari Railway that will connect Botswana’s coal fields to the port city of Walvis Bay.
Botswana has also signed an agreement with Zimbabwe and Mozambique for the development of the new Techobanine deep-water port in Mozambique and the Limpopo railway line. The project will involve the construction of a deep-water port and a 1,200 km-long railway line running across Zimbabwe, connecting Mozambique and Botswana.
Written by Chamwe Kaira
