Plans for a dry port at Gobabis near the eastern Namibia-Botswana border are gaining traction with the commissioning of a feasibility study by Botswana Railways.The proposed dry port is a joint project by SeaRail and the Namibian rail utility TransNamib. SeaRail, a wholly owned Namibian subsidiary of Botswana Railways, operates the Botswana dry port in Walvis Bay.
According to TransNamib chief executive officer Johny Smith, the plan is to connect Gobabis and Walvis Bay by rail through a dry port.Gobabis is around 110 km on the Namibian B6 from the Buitepos border post.It then joins the A2 in Botswana, which connects to the capital Gaborone, and to the north of the country via the A3.The route will also connect the Copperbelt to Walvis Bay via the new Kazungula bridge via the A3 – a distance of 1 200 km from Gobabis to Kazungula, or 1 800 km from Walvis Bay to Kazungula.Isando in Gauteng is around 1 400 km from the new bridge.
According to SeaRail acting managing director Derick Mokgatle, the objective of the company is to integrate Botswana and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region with the Walvis Bay port in order to reduce total transport and logistics costs.The 36 233-square-metre Botswana dry port offers container and breakbulk handling with a capacity of 17 000 TEUs a year, vehicle handling with a capacity of 3 600 vehicles annually, 48 reefer points, and general storage space.
Work has started on a 3 000-square-metre under-roof warehouse.Mokgatle says total logistics costs using the Walvis Bay corridors are competitive due to the efficiency of the port of Walvis Bay.It is not as congested as other harbours in the region. One of SeaRail's objectives is to diversify the port gateways being used by importers and exporters in Botswana.
The fully equipped Botswana dry port is also open to traffic between Walvis Bay and other SADC countries. It is situated within the Walvis Bay port, and freight can move in bond between the Namibian border and the facility.“We have a good product to sell, and it gives us leverage in attracting clientele. “Cargo from Zambia and the DRC is being handled by us, and our next target is Gauteng,” Mokgatle told Freight News
