Market Overview
Botswana Railways operates the main line traversing the country from north to south, connecting Zimbabwe to South Africa through Gaborone, the capital. The network is primarily a freight railway serving Botswana's coal and mineral exports, as well as transit traffic. Passenger services have been reduced significantly over the years. Botswana is developing its substantial coal reserves in the Mmamabula and Morupule areas, which requires improved rail export capacity. A Trans-Kalahari Railway project, connecting Botswana's coal fields to a new port in Namibia, has been studied for years and would be a major new freight rail investment if developed. Chinese mining companies active in Botswana's coal sector have also explored rail infrastructure investment. Botswana's political stability and diamond-driven prosperity give it capacity to finance rail investment.