BOTSWANA RAILWAYS–NTOKOTO PARTNERSHIP: STRENGTHENING RAIL CAPACITY FOR BOTSWANA’S ECONOMIC GROWTH

Botswana Railways (BR) has taken another step in strengthening its operational capacity and supporting Botswana’s mining and logistics sectors through its strategic partnership with Ntokoto Holdings.Established through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), the partnership provides additional logistics capacity to support the growing freight requirements of Morupule Coal Mine (MCM) and forms part of BR’s broader transformation and recapitalisation agenda. For BR, the partnership goes beyond increasing capacity. It reflects a shift towards strategic partnerships to accelerate transformation, improve service delivery and respond more effectively to customer demand.MCM currently transports a smaller share of its freight by rail, with the majority moved by road, and Botswana Railways aims to progressively increase the rail share, requiring additional capacity to support MCM’s expanding production and market opportunities. Through Ntokoto, BR will augment its existing capacity by leveraging private-sector capabilities while retaining its rail infrastructure, operational expertise and established customer relationship with MCM.The partnership supports BR’s focus on increasing capacity, improving reliability, strengthening commercial performance and developing strategic partnerships. It also has wider benefits for Botswana by supporting the shift of freight from road to rail, reducing pressure on road infrastructure, congestion, maintenance costs and environmental impacts. Ultimately, the Ntokoto partnership is a significant step in BR’s transformation journey, strengthening its ability to meet customer needs and positioning rail as a strategic enabler of Botswana’s economic growth.