The 26-kilometre tarred Capricorn Road, which is being funded by Jindal Africa, is expected to improve logistics, enhance rural access, and serve as a transport corridor for the coal-based power station that is under development. The road is a component of the P1.7 billion investment being implemented by Jindal Africa, the operator of the Mmamabula Energy Complex. The company has allocated over P300 million to the road itself, with a projected completion period of 11 months.
Once completed, the route is expected to play a major role in improving travel between the energy facility and key national infrastructure, executives said. “This 26-kilometre stretch of road is a deliberate, strategic investment in connectivity and the upliftment of local communities,” said Parshant Goyal, CEO of Jindal Africa, at the groundbreaking ceremony last week. “Today’s groundbreaking is not just for a road, it is for progress, for opportunity, and for long-term impact,” he added. According to the company officials, the road will additionally provide improved transport access for surrounding villages that include Mmaphashalala, Mookane and Dibete. These areas, located in the Mahalapye District, are expected to benefit from reduced travel times, better road conditions and greater connectivity to national infrastructure. Jindal Africa’s Country Director & Project Head, Neeraj Saxeena, said the road was planned in response to logistical constraints. “As a landlocked nation, Botswana’s logistics infrastructure presents certain hurdles,” he said. “This is why we are constructing this 26km tarred road from the Tropic of Capricorn to Mmamabula to ensure seamless access and support for our project and the surrounding communities.”
