On 16 July, the governments of Mozambique and Botswana signed a memorandum of understanding for the developing of a deep water port at Techobanine Point, in Mozambique’s southernmost district of Matutuine, and the building of a 1,100km connecting railway through Zimbabwe from Serule in Botswana. The envisaged port would be able to handle bulk mineral ships, oil tankers and passenger vessels. The document was signed by Mozambican transport minister Paulo Zucula and his Botswana counterpart, Frank Ramsden.
Chief executive officer of Caminhos de ferro do Moçambique (CFM – the state railway & harbours) Adelino Mesquita said the budget for studies and construction of the port and railway is estimated at around $US7 billion. The preparatory phase, including the mobilisation of finance, should be completed by the end of 2011, and the first phase of construction should take place between 2012 and 2015.
Mozambican transport minister Paulo Zucula said proposals for a deep water port in Matutuine dates from the 1960s. The original site indicated was Dobela Point, but it has been shifted to Techobanine largely for environmental reasons.
Botswana believes the new port and railway will dramatically reduce the time taken to move its imports and exports. Botswana railways chairman Taolo Sebonego explained that dependence upon South African ports and railway means that it takes up to 22 days for merchandise to arrive, be unloaded and reach its destination.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC), according to executive secretary Tomas Salomao, will give its full support “because we believe this project is important for the region”. SADC would also encourage other member states, much as South Africa (which is just 30km from Techbanine) and Swaziland, to participate in the initiative.
The Mozambican and Botswana governments believe that private finance will be forthcoming, since the port and railway can be leased out to private management. Asked by AIM, the Mozambiquan new agency, what would happen if the private sector failed to provide the money, Zucula replied “if there is no interest from private business, then there will be no problem in arranging public investment, because the project justifies this”.
The main cargo expected to use the new port is coal from Botswana. The country has an estimated 212 billion tonnes of coal reserves. Using Techobanine would free Botswana from dependence on the South African ports of Durban and Richards Bay which give priority to South African exports and experience congestion problems.

Original article [Railways Africa]