Namibia’s limited railway network could undermine the country’s ambitions to beneficiate its minerals before export, senior officials have warned.
“Without the railway it is a fact that mineral beneficiation and eventually the export of minerals to the rest of the world cannot happen,” Namport’s Executive of Port Engineering, Elzevir Gelderbloem, said.
He added that investor support is essential to address the railway grid’s weaknesses and warned that without upgraded railways from the mines to ports, the cost of transporting processed minerals would remain uncompetitive.
“We need the railways. If other countries want to buy our minerals in their processed form, we will need to upgrade our railway lines from the various mines of the country, as exportation is very expensive,” he said, adding that government is conducting feasibility studies to expand rail links, including a line to the Zambian border.
Namport CEO, Andrew Kanime, stressed the importance of connecting Namibia’s rail system to neighbouring countries rich in mineral resources.
“There is a need to connect to our neighbouring countries, specifically Botswana and others north-east such as Zambia and the DRC, which is a source of minerals that are key to the growth of every nation,” Kanime said.
This also comes as Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economy and Industry, Public Administration and Planning and former Finance minister, Iipumbu Shiimi, has warned that Namibia’s ambition to become a regional transport hub could be undermined if government continues to prioritise roads over rail, highlighting the imbalance in infrastructure funding.
