Tsodilo Resources Advances Railway Plans Linking Botswana to Namibia
Tsodilo Resources Ltd, which is planning to construct a railway line in from its mining project in Botswana connecting to Namibia through the town of Divundu, has been engaging with Namibian government transport officials regarding regional railway developments that could significantly impact its mining operations.
Chief Executive Officer James Bruchs revealed that he recently held a joint meeting with key stakeholders, including Mbahupu Tjivikua, CEO of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG); Irvaan Maharaj, WBCG South Africa’s Business Development Manager; Kendall Swartz, Executive of Commercial and Marketing at TransNamib; and Bertus Eksteen, Executive of Engineering at TransNamib, to discuss critical railway infrastructure projects.
Tsodilo Resources is focused on mining and mineral exploration, particularly the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Botswana.
Bruchs emphasized the importance of the proposed expansion of the Grootfontein–Katima Mulilo (Trans-Zambezi) railway line, noting its relevance to Tsodilo’s planned rail link from Botswana to Divundu. This extension will interconnect Namibia, Zambia, and Botswana via Ngoma to Kasane, and further link with Zimbabwe and Zambia, extending up to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This cross-border rail initiative aims to connect new mines and mining activities to the broader rail network along the Walvis Bay–Ndola–Lubumbashi Development Corridor, facilitating the transport of minerals from the Copperbelt region to the Port of Walvis Bay.
Bruchs also welcomed recent news about the planned upgrade of the Walvis Bay to Tsumeb rail section, describing it as “incredibly positive.” He noted that this section is vital for transporting up to 20 million metric tonnes per year of high-grade iron products from its projects in Botswana to Walvis Bay and currently requires significant improvement to handle such volumes efficiently.
In October 2023, the African Development Bank Group approved a US$196.43 million loan for Namibia to implement Phase II of its Transport Infrastructure Improvement Project (TIIP). This phase includes constructing 207 km of new rail track alongside the existing Kranzberg–Otjiwarongo line, using concrete sleepers and modern rail technology. With the previous upgrade of 210 km between Walvis Bay and Kranzberg, the Bank’s total rail improvement support now covers 417 km.
Bruchs stated that Tsodilo has been actively collaborating with the Namibian Ministry of Works and Transport, TransNamib, and the Walvis Bay Corridor Group to evaluate various transport options for its mineral exports, including routes via Walvis Bay and the proposed port facility at Cape Fria in the Kunene Region of northern Namibia. He added that connecting either of these routes to Divundu—and further on to Katima Mulilo—would establish Namibia as a world-class logistics hub, linking the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region to international markets. This would not only benefit Namibia but also Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, and the DRC.
Tsodilo Resources is currently exploring for economic metal deposits through its wholly owned subsidiary, Gcwihaba Resources (Pty) Ltd, in Botswana. The company holds 100% ownership of five prospecting licenses for base, precious, platinum group, and rare earth metals, all located in Botswana’s North-West District.