Chamwe Kaira
The upgrading of the railway line between Kranzberg and Otjiwarongo is gaining momentum, with sites already handed over to the contractor.
Equipment for the project is expected to arrive soon, while other works, goods and services are still at documentation or procurement stage, according to Robert Kalomho, a senior official at the ministry of works and transport.
The project is funded by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Kalomho said all 11 components under the transport infrastructure improvement project phase I, which involved upgrading the Walvis Bay to Kranzberg railway line, have been completed.
In October 2023, the AfDB approved a loan of US$196.43 million for Namibia to implement phase II of the transport infrastructure improvement project.
The loan covers 51.8% of the total cost, with the Namibian government contributing the remaining 48.2%.
The project supports Namibia’s Vision 2030 by addressing railway infrastructure bottlenecks and strengthening the country’s logistics value chain.
It aims to boost trade competitiveness in Namibia and the southern African sub-region.
The work includes constructing 207 km of new rail track close to the existing line between Kranzberg and Otjiwarongo, using concrete sleepers and new rails.
It also involves building 16 bridges, renovating two stations, and procuring 55,000 tonnes of rails to build 518 km of track. Other components include modernising the railway signaling system along the Walvis Bay–Tsumeb line to improve reliability, safety and capacity.
According to the AfDB, phase II will bring to 417 km the total rail upgraded with its support, following the earlier 210 km upgrade between Walvis Bay and Kranzberg.
AfDB said the project will be transformative for Namibia’s competitiveness, help the country achieve its goal of becoming a regional logistics hub by 2030, and support trade in neighbouring countries.
It is also expected to connect Namibia to Africa’s Copperbelt in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The AfDB has previously funded the expansion of the container terminal at the Port of Walvis Bay.
It says the current project continues efforts to integrate Namibia regionally by improving port and rail infrastructure to move goods, support value chains and promote trade.
