The Trans Kalahari Railway has reached a major milestone after Botswana and Namibia formally completed the project’s feasibility study, providing both governments with the technical and economic basis to move towards financing and implementation decisions.

For investors, the project now shifts from concept development to the more commercially significant phase of project structuring, procurement planning and capital mobilisation.

Feasibility phase completed

Namibia’s Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, and Botswana’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Noah Salakae, confirmed completion of the feasibility study during a Joint Ministerial Committee meeting in Kasane.

Prepared by external consultants, the study concludes the project’s first development phase and provides recommendations on route alignment, engineering, commercial viability and implementation options.

Both governments said the next stage will focus on reviewing the study’s findings, determining financing structures and designing transparent procurement processes before construction can begin.

The ministers also emphasised continued stakeholder and community engagement, recognising that land acquisition, environmental approvals and social acceptance will remain important elements of project development.

Officials have indicated that construction could begin as early as December 2026, subject to financing, procurement and regulatory approvals.

A strategic freight corridor for Southern Africa

The proposed railway is designed to connect Botswana’s mining sector with Namibia’s Port of Walvis Bay, creating a dedicated heavy-haul freight corridor for bulk commodities including coal, copper, manganese, soda ash and uranium.

By shifting large freight volumes from road to rail, the corridor is expected to reduce transport costs, improve export competitiveness and strengthen regional logistics across the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The railway will complement the existing Walvis Bay Corridor logistics network rather than replace it, reinforcing Namibia’s role as an Atlantic gateway for Botswana and neighbouring landlocked economies.

Previous government estimates have placed project costs at approximately P224 billion, making the railway one of Southern Africa’s largest planned transport infrastructure investments.

For investors, the focus now moves to project bankability. Financing structures, freight commitments, tariff design and risk allocation between governments and private investors will determine whether the project can secure long-term funding.

Over the coming months, market participants will watch for financing announcements, procurement timelines and anchor freight agreements, which will provide the clearest indication of whether the Trans Kalahari Railway can progress from feasibility to construction.

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