US$1,5m lithium rail siding boosts exports 

Source: US$1,5m lithium rail siding boosts exports – herald

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu

THE Second Republic has taken another major step in modernising Zimbabwe’s transport infrastructure with the commissioning of a US$1,5 million lithium transshipment rail siding in West Nicholson, Matabeleland South, strengthening mineral exports and advancing the country’s drive towards rail-based bulk cargo transportation.

The facility, commissioned yesterday, dispatched its first consignment of lithium concentrate from Gwanda to the Port of Maputo in Mozambique, marking the beginning of a new export corridor expected to improve logistics efficiency and reduce reliance on road transport.

Developed by the Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway (BBR) in partnership with Silvergill and the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), the siding is designed to handle lithium concentrates as well as other strategic minerals, including chrome, ferrochrome and iron ore, positioning Matabeleland South as a key logistics hub for bulk mineral exports.

The investment dovetails with the Second Republic’s infrastructure-led development agenda, which aligns with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030, which prioritise the rehabilitation of rail infrastructure, value addition, industrialisation, improved regional connectivity and increased export competitiveness.

It also complements Government’s policy of maximising value from the country’s mineral resources through efficient logistics and integrated value chains.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, BBR general manager Mr Khumbulani Tendai Mabvura said the West Nicholson siding is a major breakthrough in strengthening Zimbabwe’s mining logistics network.

“We are witnessing the opening of a new logistics gateway for bulk minerals, a renewed commitment to rail-based transport and a strong message that Zimbabwe’s infrastructure development agenda is alive and moving forward. The first train departing from this siding carries processed lithium concentrates destined for Maputo,” he said.

Mr Mabvura said the siding will provide mining companies with a safer, more efficient and sustainable means of transporting heavy cargo.

“It will give industry a practical alternative to moving heavy cargo by road and it will help reduce the pressure currently being placed on our national road network,” he said.

“This is part of Zimbabwe’s movement from simply having mineral resources in the ground to building value chains that connect production, processing, logistics and export markets. As BBR, we have taken seriously the national call by His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, that Zimbabwe is open for business.”

Mr Mabvura said the project represents an investment of about US$1,5 million.

“In the current environment, that is not a small commitment. It is a statement of confidence in the economy, in the mining sector, in the rail sector and in the leadership direction that has placed infrastructure development at the centre of national transformation,” he said.

Mr Mabvura said rail transport remains the most suitable option for bulk freight over long distances because it is safer, more efficient and environmentally sustainable.

He urged Government to consider allocating a defined proportion of bulk mineral cargo to rail transport.

“The road and rail must complement each other. Increased utilisation of rail transport will reduce pressure on the road network. This will lower road maintenance costs, improve road safety, reduce congestion, reduce traffic load and road degradation and contribute to environmental sustainability through more efficient freight transportation,” said Mr Mabvura.

Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Albert Nguluvhe described the project as a model of successful collaboration between Government and the private sector.

He said the facility strengthens the country’s position as a regional transport and logistics hub while enhancing trade corridors linking the country to neighbouring states and international markets.

The minister said the siding will improve the movement of lithium from Gwanda mines, enabling Zimbabwe to take advantage of growing global demand for critical minerals used in clean energy technologies.

“This investment directly supports Government’s vision of achieving an upper-middle-income economy by Vision 2030. It is fully aligned with the objectives of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which prioritises the implementation of transformative infrastructure projects that stimulate industrialisation, enhance productivity and improve regional competitiveness,” he said.

“As Government, we remain committed to creating a conducive policy and regulatory environment that encourages investment, promotes transparency and ensures mutually beneficial partnerships that contribute to sustainable economic growth and national prosperity.”

Minister Nguluvhe said efficient transport systems are critical to industrialisation, trade and national competitiveness, adding that Government remains focused on modernising transport infrastructure to unlock economic opportunities.

The latest development also underpins the Second Republic’s broader transport sector reforms, which include the ongoing recapitalisation of the NRZ, rehabilitation of strategic rail corridors and increased private sector participation in rail infrastructure.

The initiatives are aimed at shifting heavy freight from roads to rail, reducing logistics costs, extending the lifespan of the national road network and improving Zimbabwe’s competitiveness as a regional trade and transit hub.

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