TransNamib: Hauling for the heavies

TransNamib has the unmatched capacity and capabilities to transport bulk-break freight. In terms the minerals and metals, the company transports copper concentrate, blister copper, manganese, coal and yellow cake, according to Abigail Raubenheimer, the manager of corporate communication for the parastatal.Mines have sidings to allow for the loading of bulk freight for transport on TransNamib trains. These include Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb, Ohorongo Cement, Tradeport Namibia, NamPower and Rössing. Meanwhile, both the ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz are geared to welcome TranNamib freight trains and off-loading, storing and shipping Namibia’s mineral wealth abroad. As the national railway operator of Namibia, TransNamib is regulated to be the only railway operator in the country and any sidings and loading depots developments must be approved by TransNamib and meet technical specifications and standards. Such development and investment are, however, the customer’s sole responsibility. Active siding is of great benefit to TransNamib customers, as it is more cost effective in terms of the handling and transportation of bulk goods.Bulk goodsAbout 48% of TransNamib monthly bulk originates from mines.For Tradeport Namibia, TransNamib transports on average 17 000 tonnes of manganese from South Africa to Lüderitz in a month. Other bulk goods the railway operator carries for mining clients in Namibia include sulphuric acid and bulk fuel. Annually, the mining sector contributes 27% to the bulk freight carried by TransNamib. While the opportunity is there to exponentially increase volumes - especially in terms of mining - the company’s current rolling stock capacity challenges affect its ability to realise those opportunities. TransNamib envisages an increase of this capacity with a planned Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) loan facility. The loan will be used for the remanufacturing of rolling stock, acquisition of new rolling stock and the purchasing of spare parts amongst others, it said.According to TransNamib, this it will significantly increase its capacity. Critical role“TransNamib plays a critical role in fulfilling Namibia’s vision to be a logistics hub for the region, thus investment in increasing our capacity and rail infrastructure is crucial,” Raubenheimer said.“TransNamib is currently focused on servicing its current mining customers and building key relationships in the mining industry to be able to increase its mining volumes once our capacity has increased,” she added.Future plans at TransNamib to transport more mining freight are embodied with the implementation of a five-year integrated strategic business plan (ISBP). “We hope to have the required rolling stock capacity in order to increase the volumes from the mining sector. We are also looking at hub development at both Gobabis and Grootfontein to cater for exports and imports from Botswana, Zambia and Democratic Republic of the Congo mining companies."Mining freight is very important for TransNamib. “That’s why we feature it prominently in our ISBP strategies, especially for the implementation of our road-to-rail strategy,” Raubenheimer said. Challenges include obsolete and aged rolling stock and a dilapidated railway infrastructure. TransNamib’s cash flow position also poses a significant challenge in terms of its operational capacity.

TransNamib: Hauling for the heavies

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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TransNamib: Hauling for the heavies

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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