The African Development Bank (AfDB) said on Wednesday that it has approved a $196.43 million loan for Namibia to implement the second phase of its Transport Infrastructure Improvement Project (TIIP).

The bank said in a statement that the loan, approved Tuesday, represents 51.8 per cent of the project’s total cost, while the Namibian government will provide the remaining 48.2 per cent.

According to the statement, the project entails constructing 207km of new rail track close to the existing line between Kranzberg and Otjiwarongo, using concrete railway sleepers and new rails.

It said the works include constructing 16 bridges, renovating two stations, and procuring 55,000 tonnes of rails to build 518km of track.

“Other components include modernising the railway signalling system along the Walvis Bay-Tsumeb line to improve its reliability, safety, and capacity, as well as the overall performance of the railway system,” said the bank.

AfDB’s director-general for Southern Africa, Leila Mokaddem, said in the statement that the project would maximise the benefits and be transformative for the competitiveness of Namibia.

Ms Mokaddem said the project would also assist in attaining the country’s vision of becoming a regional logistics hub by 2030 while catalysing development change in neighbouring countries and the sub-region.

“This project will also connect Namibia to Africa’s Copper Belt and achieve regional railway connectivity,” she added.

Meanwhile, having previously funded the expansion of the container terminal at the Port of Walvis Bay, the AfDB supports integrating Namibia regionally by building critical port and rail infrastructure to connect the country to the rest of the region, move goods, support value chains, and promote trade.

The AfDB Group has been operating in Namibia since 1991.

As of September 30, 2023, the bank’s active portfolio in Namibia was estimated at approximately $687 million, split among 10 operations in six sectors.

(Xinhua/NAN)