BOTSWANA Barry Baxter reports on railway and coalbed methane developments

摘要

In April it was reported that an agreement had been signed between the Botswana and Namibian governments to go ahead with development of the US$ 10 billion Trans-Kalahari railway (TKR) project, which would - at least initially - primarily move coal from landlocked Botswana to a port and loading terminal to be developed in Namibia as part of the project. Following these reports, a second project has surfaced. A private developer has reportedly commissioned a feasibility study for a similar project to move Botswana's coal eastwards to a proposed deep-water port at Ponto Techobanine on the Mozambique coast. This 1100 km rail link would pass through Zimbabwe, potentially to pick up export coal from that country. A link that would allow Botswana to export coal to Zambia has also been suggested.