Botswana has moved a step closer to using Mozambique as its outlet for the export of coal, after signing an agreement with Zimbabwe.
The two neighbouring countries have agreed that Botswana will export about 10 million tonnes of coal annually by way of the railway running through Zimbabwe to the Mozambique border. The line ultimately ends at Maputo, where the Matola coal export terminal is operated by a division of South Africa’s Grindrod Group.
There are also plans to build a new deepwater port south of Maputo which would include building a railway extension from Maputo south to the new port. This is a long term proposal however and it seems that Botswana has opted for this route instead of waiting for another proposal to build the Trans-Kalahari railway across the Kalahari Desert to Namibia and the new deepwater port just to the north of Walvis Bay.
In terms of the recent agreement Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique have agreed in principal to undertake the repair and refurbishment of the railway connecting the three countries with the port of Matola/Maputo. The extent of the existing railway is about 1,100 kilometres.
Another possibility is for Botswana to export some of its coal through the South African port of Richards Bay, via a short spur to be built connecting the Botswana rail with that of Transnet Freight Rail in the Waterberg district of Limpopo province, South Africa.
The National Railway of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has become neglected in recent years and much of the network requires upgrading before heavy coal trains can safely operate. The line from Bulawayo to Maputo/Matola is however in reasonably good condition and carries regular traffic