Discussing Transnamib's Railway Projects and Future
March 10, 2023
In this episode of Coffee with the Editor, Johny Smith, CEO of TransNamib, joins Philippa Dean to discuss his impending departure from TransNamib and the exciting projects the company is working on. Watch to learn about the Walvis Bay-to-Kranzberg upgrade project, the Trans Kalahari Project, new locomotives being purchased with a 2.6 billion loan, and the government's plan to rehabilitate sections of the railway lines in Namibia. Smith also shares his biggest highlight during his tenure at TransNamib and his vision for the future of the rail industry in Namibia.
Intro:
Welcome to Coffee with the Editor, where we bring you exclusive interviews with industry leaders. Today, we're joined by Johny Smith, the CEO of Transnamib.
Interview:
Philippa: Johny, thank you for joining us. Let's start with the big news – you're leaving Transnamib at the end of the month. Can you tell us more about that?
Johny: Yes, that's correct. I've decided to move on from Transnamib, but I'll remain in the industry and continue to support its growth.
Philippa: Transnamib has several exciting projects in the works. Can you tell us about them?
Johny: Of course. One of our key projects is the Walvis Bay-to-Kranzberg upgrade, which will allow us to operate the line at higher speeds for both freight and passengers. We're also making progress on the Trans Kalahari Project, which connects Botswana and Namibia. Additionally, we're purchasing new locomotives with a 2.6 billion loan.
Philippa: That's impressive. How about the government's plans to rehabilitate other railway lines in Namibia?
Johny: Yes, the government has a plan to rehabilitate several other sections, including the line connection between Grootfontein and Zambia. We're excited to be implementing this project and are already making progress on rehabilitating the 42 km portion of the line.
Philippa: You've achieved a lot during your tenure at Transnamib. What's been your biggest highlight?
Johny: I'm proud to have sourced the 2.6 billion Rand funding for our business plan and to have put in place a lot of structure, including traineeship programs and technical training for rolling stock and maintenance. We've also improved our corporate governance, with unqualified audits since I started.
Philippa: That's great to hear. Finally, what's next for Transnamib and the rail industry in Namibia?
Johny: There will be an acting CEO after I leave, and the board will start the recruitment process soon. I'm confident that Transnamib will continue to grow and succeed in the future, and I'm excited about the opportunities in the rail industry in Namibia.
Outro:
Thank you for joining us for this episode of Coffee with the Editor. Don't forget to like and subscribe for more exclusive interviews with industry leaders.
Welcome to Coffee with the Editor, where we bring you exclusive interviews with industry leaders. Today, we're joined by Johny Smith, the CEO of Transnamib.
Interview:
Philippa: Johny, thank you for joining us. Let's start with the big news – you're leaving Transnamib at the end of the month. Can you tell us more about that?
Johny: Yes, that's correct. I've decided to move on from Transnamib, but I'll remain in the industry and continue to support its growth.
Philippa: Transnamib has several exciting projects in the works. Can you tell us about them?
Johny: Of course. One of our key projects is the Walvis Bay-to-Kranzberg upgrade, which will allow us to operate the line at higher speeds for both freight and passengers. We're also making progress on the Trans Kalahari Project, which connects Botswana and Namibia. Additionally, we're purchasing new locomotives with a 2.6 billion loan.
Philippa: That's impressive. How about the government's plans to rehabilitate other railway lines in Namibia?
Johny: Yes, the government has a plan to rehabilitate several other sections, including the line connection between Grootfontein and Zambia. We're excited to be implementing this project and are already making progress on rehabilitating the 42 km portion of the line.
Philippa: You've achieved a lot during your tenure at Transnamib. What's been your biggest highlight?
Johny: I'm proud to have sourced the 2.6 billion Rand funding for our business plan and to have put in place a lot of structure, including traineeship programs and technical training for rolling stock and maintenance. We've also improved our corporate governance, with unqualified audits since I started.
Philippa: That's great to hear. Finally, what's next for Transnamib and the rail industry in Namibia?
Johny: There will be an acting CEO after I leave, and the board will start the recruitment process soon. I'm confident that Transnamib will continue to grow and succeed in the future, and I'm excited about the opportunities in the rail industry in Namibia.
Outro:
Thank you for joining us for this episode of Coffee with the Editor. Don't forget to like and subscribe for more exclusive interviews with industry leaders.