Namport plans R1.3bn port upgrade

NAMIBIA IS planning the construction of 700km of railway linking the Namibian city of Grootfontein with Zambia’s Katima Mulilo border post following an expansion project at the Walvis Bay port. The port expansion project is expected to cost $189m (1.32bn) and is designed to increase capacity for the handling of imports primarily destined for Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) general manager for operations, Lumumba Kathindi. “We are now doing some technical polish-up so that we can go for an international tender. We will borrow the money from international lenders,” Kathindi added While a rail line exists between Walvis Bay and Grootfontein, the proposed line will serve as an extension of this going through to Zambia, with the focus on boosting trade in the region. The feasibility study is expected to be completed in March 2 008 after which project costs will be determined and the process of sourcing funding will begin. “Our focus is on trade facilitation through a cheaper and faster route," said Johny Smith, the business development executive for the Walvis Bay Corridor Group.