Railway infrastructure being boosted
African Development Bank loan secured
Access for bulk cargo to Walvis Bay is also expected to improve.
The railway line between Kranzberg and Otjiwarongo is being upgraded.
The works and transport ministry has announced that government has applied for a loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to finance the project.
This forms part of the second phase of the transportation infrastructure improvement project, known as TIIP Phase 2. The AfDB confirmed the approval of the loan, amounting to US$196 million (approximately N$3.7 billion), in a press release on Tuesday.
The loan covers about 51.8% of the TIIP2 expenses, with the Namibian government expected to provide the rest.
Connected Namibia
The objectives of the project are to enhance Namibia's and the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) trade competitiveness by strengthening the logistics value chain and improving the rail infrastructure. Access for bulk cargo to Walvis Bay is also expected to improve. Leïla Mokaddem, the development bank's director-general for Southern Africa, said: "This project will also help connect Namibia with Africa's Copper Belt and achieve regional rail connections."
A stretch of 207 km of railway is being refurbished using concrete rail sleepers and new rails. The works include the construction of 16 bridges, the refurbishment of two stations, and the acquisition of 55 000 tonnes of rails to build 518 kilometers of track.
The signalling and telecommunications system between Walvis Bay and Tsumeb is being upgraded.
Furthermore, the funds will also cover consultancy services for project supervision, along with a detailed design for the Otavi to Grootfontein railway. Consultants will also be appointed to provide oversight on public-private partnership transactions for the trans-Zambezi railway, manage financial audit services for the project, conduct technical audits, and promote health, gender equality and gender empowerment during the project.
Plans in place
TransNamib's locomotive workshop in Windhoek and at the Gamams training centre are being upgraded, while young railway workers and women at TransNamib will also receive training, according to the ministry. A framework for Namibian railway qualifications will be developed, along with further skills and capacity development at TransNamib.
The trans-Kalahari corridor railway is being developed, and detailed design studies will be conducted for train station upgrades.
The national logistics master plan will be updated, climate change mitigation and vulnerability will be studied, and the management of the country's trade corridors will be strengthened with the funds, according to the ministry.
The AfDB's procurement policy will apply, along with Namibia's government procurement framework, as specified for each procurement package. Bid documents will be released this month, according to the ministry.
The works and transport ministry has announced that government has applied for a loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to finance the project.
This forms part of the second phase of the transportation infrastructure improvement project, known as TIIP Phase 2. The AfDB confirmed the approval of the loan, amounting to US$196 million (approximately N$3.7 billion), in a press release on Tuesday.
The loan covers about 51.8% of the TIIP2 expenses, with the Namibian government expected to provide the rest.
Connected Namibia
The objectives of the project are to enhance Namibia's and the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) trade competitiveness by strengthening the logistics value chain and improving the rail infrastructure. Access for bulk cargo to Walvis Bay is also expected to improve. Leïla Mokaddem, the development bank's director-general for Southern Africa, said: "This project will also help connect Namibia with Africa's Copper Belt and achieve regional rail connections."
A stretch of 207 km of railway is being refurbished using concrete rail sleepers and new rails. The works include the construction of 16 bridges, the refurbishment of two stations, and the acquisition of 55 000 tonnes of rails to build 518 kilometers of track.
The signalling and telecommunications system between Walvis Bay and Tsumeb is being upgraded.
Furthermore, the funds will also cover consultancy services for project supervision, along with a detailed design for the Otavi to Grootfontein railway. Consultants will also be appointed to provide oversight on public-private partnership transactions for the trans-Zambezi railway, manage financial audit services for the project, conduct technical audits, and promote health, gender equality and gender empowerment during the project.
Plans in place
TransNamib's locomotive workshop in Windhoek and at the Gamams training centre are being upgraded, while young railway workers and women at TransNamib will also receive training, according to the ministry. A framework for Namibian railway qualifications will be developed, along with further skills and capacity development at TransNamib.
The trans-Kalahari corridor railway is being developed, and detailed design studies will be conducted for train station upgrades.
The national logistics master plan will be updated, climate change mitigation and vulnerability will be studied, and the management of the country's trade corridors will be strengthened with the funds, according to the ministry.
The AfDB's procurement policy will apply, along with Namibia's government procurement framework, as specified for each procurement package. Bid documents will be released this month, according to the ministry.
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