Botswana signs coal export deal with Zimbabwe and Mozambique

Landlocked Botswana, which boasts the third largest coal reserves in Africa, has a potential new export route. 

Botswana has signed a deal with Zimbabwe and Mozambique to develop a massive rail and port project, albeit that financing is still not in place for the planned infrastructure. 

The project involves upgrading existing rail lines, and building new connections. It also includes a new $1.5bn deepwater port at Technobanine, south of Mozambique’s capital, Maputo. The port would also serve as a possible export route for South Africa and Eswatini. 

Mozambican president Filipe Nyusi said on Friday that building the new port will benefit landlocked countries of the southern African interior, and will relieve congestion in the South African ports of Durban and Richards Bay.