Container depot planned for Grootfontein

Grootfontein could soon become a logistics hub, should a plan to establish a container depot there next year materialise.A Namibian company called Grootfontein Container Depot intends to construct the depot where they plan to store containers coming from Walvis Bay by rail.The containers will then be distributed by truck to Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.In an interview with Nampa last week, Cedric Willemse, who co-owns the company with Charton Useb, said the empty containers would be returned to Grootfontein to be picked up by train to collect goods at the harbour town.Some goods from abroad will also be stored at the depot to be transported by rail to Walvis Bay.“The idea is to reduce the number of trucks on the road to Walvis Bay, reducing traffic congestion and the pressure on the road,” said Willemse, adding that it could also mean fewer accidents.They also plan to construct a fuel depot and cold-storage facility as part of the project.Useb said they started planning the depot in 2013 and applied for 30 hectares of land in 2014, which has now been approved.He said it would cost about N$500 million to construct the depots and cold-storage facility.“This project will boost the economy of Grootfontein in terms of employment and business operations,” he added.It is expected that about 10 000 jobs will be created from construction until the completion of the project. About 200 of the jobs will be permanent.The business partners are finalising the costing, which will be followed by the environmental impact assessment and submission of the business plan to the Development Bank of Namibia for funding. Construction is expected to start early next year.NAMPA

Container depot planned for Grootfontein

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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Container depot planned for Grootfontein

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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