Industry related headlines to keep you in the know.
A gravel road built seven years ago by a cross-border transport company to improve logistics from the Copperbelt in Zambia through Barotseland, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is set to be upgraded at a cost of $337 million.
The road, linking mines in Solwezi, Zambia, and Kolwezi, DRC, will significantly enhance road freight in an area responsible for 15% of global copper demand. The DRC also produces 70% of the world’s cobalt, a key material for electric vehicle batteries, underscoring the need for improved logistics to Namibia’s Port of Walvis Bay.
Plans include upgrading the Zambia-DRC border at Kipushi and constructing a new border crossing north of Lumwama, directly south of Kolwezi. This will improve port-to-pit logistics for Walvis Bay.
Currently, hauliers from Namibia pass through Botswana before crossing into Zambia at the Kazungula Bridge. The route then continues via Livingstone, Lusaka, Ndola, and Kitwe before reaching Solwezi. Trucks heading to Kolwezi must also navigate difficult border crossings like Kasumbalesa.
If all goes as planned, Walvis Bay will handle cargo from Zambia and the DRC more directly, reducing distances and eliminating multiple border crossings that often cause trade delays.
KPR Consulting, representing various stakeholders, stated that Barotse Highway Limited (BHL) has signed a concession with the Zambian government to construct a crucial 371-kilometre road from Mutanda to Kaoma.
The BHL Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will design, finance, construct, and operate the road. The existing gravel road, which requires extensive upgrades, has long been a barrier to efficient transportation.
Although the route via Katima-Mulilo and Sesheke is an alternative, the poor condition of the Kaoma-Mutanda road has hindered its use. This corridor, known as the North-Western Corridor (NWC), has immense potential for logistics improvement.
Buks Janse van Rensburg, CEO of BHL, called the road a major achievement for cross-border logistics. He highlighted its role in linking Zambia’s Copperbelt and North-Western Provinces to Africa’s west coast and South Africa.
Mbahupu Hippy Tjivikua, CEO of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group, supported the project, stating that the NWC would significantly speed up transport to and from Walvis Bay.
Mike Fitzmaurice, vice-president of the African Union’s Organisation for Transport and Logistics, emphasized that the road should drive further improvements for mineral exports.
Zambia’s Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, noted that the road would link Kaoma to the North-Western Copperbelt, shortening travel time and improving regional connectivity.
BHL originally built the road in 2017 to support its fleet of 700 trucks and has maintained it for free over the past seven years. Van Rensburg expressed excitement about unlocking the corridor’s economic potential, believing the upgraded road will bring significant trade benefits to Zambia.
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February 8, 2025
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