African countries are increasingly recognising the importance of profitable rail solutions to move bulk commodities.
According to Boetie Zandberg, director of engineering for US-based Railnet International, the company is in talks with several African countries to develop rail solutions.
“The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) met with us earlier this year and have started talks in earnest about railway solutions for the DRC’s bulk mining commodities,” he told Freight News.
“They realise the importance of getting their minerals to port as quickly and as safely as possible. Rail is the best option for long-distance heavy-haul bulk commodities.”
He said the company had been tasked by the DRC with looking at solutions via Zambia and Zimbabwe to ports in Mozambique, as well as routes to Angola’s deep-sea ports and Walvis Bay in Namibia.
An official Memorandum of Understanding had been signed.
“The DRC understands that it needs to improve efficiency. They are looking at feasibility studies for all their railway lines to the various ports in the region.”
Another region with which the company is currently in talks is East Africa where they spoke with the government of Uganda in June.
“Uganda is looking at a railway development including South Sudan, Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda,” said Zandberg.
“These talks are very serious and we already have a commitment from Uganda. The country wants to upgrade all its railway lines to the new wider gauge, but also link it to all neighbouring countries. The railway line will link to the port in Mombasa.”
He said the priority for this railway development was also bulk commodities - particularly titanium, uranium and copper.
According to Zandberg, Railnet International has also been inspecting 1200km of the Dakar-Bamako Line in Mali and Senegal.
“We have been in discussion about the condition of the line, culverts and bridges. Plans are now being developed on how to move forward.”
