26 Oct 2015

Botswana Dry Port facility in Walvis Bay is a gateway for effective business opportunities, says Sea Rail Botswana Dry Port manager, Mr  Mthulisi Lotshe.

In an interview at the two day Ghan-Oma festival in Gobabis, Namibia hosted by Botswana High Commission and Ghanzi District Council and Omaheke Regional Municipality, Mr Lotshe said  the port is seen as a strategic point of government as an alternative route from Durban.  

Turnaround times for offloading vessels, Mr Lotshe said is 12 hours at the Walvis Bay port compared to Durban port; as the port is strategically located halfway down Namibian coast with direct access to principle shipping routes. He also added that it takes approximately 48 hours for goods to reach Botswana from Namibia. 

The port according to Mr Lotshe is also not congested as compared to the Durban port. He also said because the port is International Ship and Port Facility Security Code compliant, security measures are well in place.

With the capacity of 80 000 annually and 17 000 TEUs containers annually, Mr Lotshe noted that whatever profits made from collection of warehouse and handling fees goes to government reserves as the port is leased to Botswana government and such profits are channeled to other government projects.  

The port which is managed by Sea Rail Botswana, a subsidiary of Botswana Railways is mandated with handling containers and imported vehicles. 

Located in a 3.6 hactre land leased by Namibian government, Mr Lotshe said the port handles 4 800 cars per year.  For her part, Botswana High Commissioner to Namibia Ms Tshenolo Modise applauded government of Namibia for their continued support.

She said such support is a true demonstration of cordial bonds of friendship that exist between the two countries. 

The addition of Ghan-Oma cultural festival to partnerships like Trans-Kalahari Corridor, Botswana Dry Port Facility in Walvis Bay and Trans-Kalahari Railway Projects, Ms Modise said, is a demonstration of continued cordial bonds which serve as a bedrock for collaboration in different ventures. Ends