Africa > Southern Africa > Botswana > Infrastructure boom on Botswana’s horizon

Botswana: Infrastructure boom on Botswana’s horizon

2012/09/10

As a result, the transport and energy & power sectors are expected to see the majority increase over the next decade. As the majority of projects are financed by the government, and the country is heavily reliant on revenues from the diamond mining industry, the economic recession continues to be the greatest restraint for infrastructure development.

Frost & Sullivan’s statement, ‘Infrastructure Tracker: Botswana's Infrastructure Sector’, finds that there will be significant increase in the transport and energy and power infrastructure sectors in Botswana. This is as a result of the government's aim to expand the mining industry and stimulate economic increase by diversifying the economy.

"The discovery of considerable coal reserves is one of the greatest drivers for the development of improved transport infrastructure, and capacity building in the energy & power sector. Botswana's Morupule B power station is currently operating at 110% capacity and the country imports 97% of its energy requirement," noted Frost & Sullivan's Environmental & Building Technologies Industry Analyst, Sarah O'Carroll.

"The government is as well trying to diversify its economy, in order to decrease its reliance on the mining sector. This is as well a significant contributor to investment in infrastructure."

Botswana's rail network is in desperate need of expansion. The country has a single North-South rail corridor with three small branches, connecting only two of its neighbours, Zimbabwe and South Africa. An estimated USD8.4 billion will be invested in expanding the railway network. This investment will see Botswana connected to Namibia and Mozambique through two new rail links, allowing the efficient transportation of minerals for export. It is hoped that the improved rail network will as well transform Botswana into a transport hub in southern Africa, with the country facilitating trade in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

O'Carroll stated that transport infrastructure had not been upgraded and extended since the 1980's, increasing both the cost and time to transport manufactured goods and raw materials. Poor infrastructure in these sectors has ultimately restricted the development of new industries and the expansion of existing ones.

Infrastructure development in Botswana is driven by the government. The economic recession has reduced both government revenues, due to sharply decreased diamond prices, and foreign direct investment. This has greatly restricted the government's ability to carry out new infrastructure projects.

"The construction market contracted sharply during the economic recession," explained O'Carroll. "Although the country's increase rate is above 7%, the effects of the recession still linger and investors are reluctant to invest in new infrastructure projects. Government funds have been diverted to priority sectors and a lot of ongoing projects have been put on hold, with next projects being delayed until such time as funding becomes available. The government is now as well considering public-private partnerships as a means to develop infrastructure in Botswana."

Despite the challenges facing infrastructure development, there are over 30 multi-million dollar projects ongoing in Botswana. Investment in the transport and energy & power sectors accounts for 84.7% of USD12.81 billion of infrastructure development in the country.

"The Chinese have a high success rate of winning infrastructure project tenders in the country," said O'Carroll. "Because public funds are typically used for these projects, price is a key determinant in evaluating tenders. The Chinese' ability to undercut costs gives them a key chance in the selection process. A company's ability to complete projects timely and within budget will, accordingly, be crucial to winning tenders for infrastructure development projects in Botswana."

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