Debswana, a joint venture of the Botswana government and De Beers, owns the mine and Transnet expects to operate two 35-wagon trains per week once the agreement is signed. It is also reportedly considering an upgrade of the Botswana section to its standard 26-tonne axeload from its current axeload of 18.5 tonnes.
The agreement marks further progress in Transnet's policy to develop bilateral and multilateral rail agreements that will enable it to create a unified railway network in southern Africa. It signed a similar agreement with Mozambique and Swaziland in August 2012 which is set to double coal and magnetite exports from Mozambique's Maputo region to 6 million tonnes per year.
