Transport
Malawi progresses with Limbe-Makhanga rail rehabilitation
November 04, 2020 / Noel Mkwaila
Malawi’s rail operator Central East African Railways (CEAR) says it is making substantial progress in the the rehabilitation exercise for the Limbe-Makhanga railway line that was damaged by devastating floods in 2015.
CEAR Spokesperson Chisomo Mwamadi said in an interview that contractors who are working on re-installing the railways have completed 50% of the works.
Mwamadi explained that Limbe-Luchenza stretch of the railway is expected to be finished by April 2021.
He said CEAR has planned to rehabilitate a 72 km rail stretch from Limbe to Sandama while the rest of the line will be rehabilitated by the government.
Mwamadi said the Limbe-Luchenza rail rehabilitation exercise was divided into two phases with Phase 1 covering Limbe to Nansadi segment now 75% completed and Phase 2 covering the Nansadi-Luchenza stretch which is at 50%.
The works underway involve placing of ballast, replacing of bridge wooden sleepers, temping and bridge works at Nansadi.
Other works will include earthworks, installation of rails and track assembly.
Mwamadi, however, bemoans the impact of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic saying it resulted in a five-month suspension of the works which has weighed in on the scheduled completion period.
He, nonetheless, said that CEAR has put in place strategies to speed up the rehabilitation exercise which will open up business in areas along the railway, which is a cheaper mode of transport compared to road transport currently widely used in Malawi.
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Rehabilitation:
The establishment of a stable and self-sustaining ecosystem, but not necessarily the one that existed before mining began. In many cases, complete restoration may be impossible, but successful remediation, reclamation, and rehabilitation can result in the timely establishment of a functional ecosystem.
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Remediation:
The cleanup of the contaminated area to safe levels by removing or isolating contaminants. At mine sites, remediation often consists of isolating contaminated material in pre-existing tailings storage facilities, capping tailings and waste rock stockpiles with clean topsoil, and collecting and treating any contaminated mine water if necessary.
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