Malawi rail upgrades underway

Rehabilitation of the railway is an initiative by Malawi’s Ministry of Transport and Public Works and forms part of the Government of Malawi’s Rail Strategy and Growth Plan, which has the stated mission “to facilitate the provision of a safe, efficient, and sustainable rail transport system” to “promote socio-economic development.”

Upgrade works will increase efficiency and capacity of the railway and are being undertaken by CEAR. Completion is planned for the end of 2024. Works include refurbishing railway bridges and reballasting to handle increased load-bearing capacity from a current maximum axle load of 15 t to 18 t. Managing Director Frank Eagar commented: “Kasiya already benefits from exceptional existing infrastructure in central Malawi. This refurbishment project reaffirms Kasiya’s logistics solution with sufficient rail capacity, enhanced reliability and a direct connection to the deep-water export Port of Nacala.

The infrastructure investment by CEAR and Nacala Logistics along with approvals from the Malawi Government is a demonstration of the country’s commitment to achieving its major economic development goals which include developing the mining industry and increasing Malawi’s export market.”

Kasiya benefits from two options for transporting its rutile and graphite products from the mine operations to seaports, being the Nacala Logistics Corridor to the Port of Nacala and the Sena Rail Line to the Port of Beira (Beira Corridor). The current upgrades to the Nkaya junction improve access to the NLC and will ultimately also improve access to the Beira Corridor.

The NLC offers the preferred logistics route to the deep-water Indian Ocean port of Nacala to export to global markets. This established and operation-ready logistics infrastructure provides significant capital and operating cost savings to Kasiya. To access the NLC, Sovereign plans to construct a 6 km rail spur to connect directly with the processing plant, increasing efficiencies in handling inbound and outbound freight compared to any road alternative.

The Beira Corridor, comprised of the Sena Rail Line and the Port of Beira, has provided Sovereign with a second route to export markets and is currently undergoing its own upgrade works. In 2023, the Beira Development Corridor Agreement was approved, with the objective of connecting the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi to the Mozambican Port of Beira through road and rail networks. As Mozambique’s second largest port, the Port of Beira is a significant driver of the region’s economy and an important gateway for global trade, handling a wide variety of containerised and bulk cargo. The Beira Development Corridor Agreement project aims to eliminate logistical bottlenecks for international and intra-African trade. The African Development Bank (AfDB) is a major financier of the project.

Read the article online at: https://www.drybulkmagazine.com/rail-barge/20062024/malawi-rail-upgrades-underway/