Mmegi

Afreximbank confirms interest in Mmamabula-Lephalale funding

Aiming high: Botswana Railways is advancing several regional rail linkages, including the Mmamabula-Lephalale line
Aiming high: Botswana Railways is advancing several regional rail linkages, including the Mmamabula-Lephalale line

Afreximbank, the continent's primary trade finance institution, has confirmed its interest in funding the long-awaited Mmamabula-Lephalale railway line, a key bulk commodity link expected to cost $627 million (P8.7 billion) in its first phase.

The link will run for about 120 kilometres from Mmamabula to Lephalale in Limpopo, before linking up with existing lines to run to Richard's Bay port terminal, with a possible future expansion to Mozambique.

The latest available figures indicate that the initial phase would involve developing 7.8 million tonnes per annum capacity with the associated rolling stock leading an estimated cost of $627 million. The second phase would involve an expansion to 18 million tonnes per annum at a cost of $1.13 billion (P15.6 billion).

Editor's Comment
A promising step for public schools, but...

For too long, the state of many public schools has been a source of shame. We have all seen the pictures and heard the stories of broken windows, unreliable water and electricity, topped by classrooms that are not fit for proper learning. The establishment of the Education Infrastructure and Management Company Ltd (EIMC) signals that authorities are finally ready to take this problem seriously. We must commend the government for this initiative....

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