As a strong African industrial group, the business also leverages partnerships with top exponents in the field, including Germany’s DB (Deutsche Bahn) Engineering & Consulting (DB E&C).
The Company brings global experience and capacity to the African Railway sector, supporting development of new railway systems and enhancing the operational efficiencies of existing networks.
As a result, the Thelo Group provides unique solutions to current and prospective railway infrastructure projects, developers, and existing operators on the African continent. The group places particular emphasis on Transportation & Logistics and, more specifically, Railway Projects.
Thelo has all the ingredients to become the pre-eminent African Transportation & Logistics provider. Our long-term vision is to deliver rail for freight via a holistic, fit-for-purpose model for Africa – that will leave a lasting legacy to advance the economic development of the continent by turning its fully integrated model into key outcomes:
- Delivering a sizeable number of railway corridors and networks across the continent
- Building the capacity of African national railway operators
- Training African talent into key roles across its various functions
- Being the partner-of-choice for those who share our vision for a holistic approach, capacity building and high impact development
Africa’s infrastructure deficit results in strong demand for commercial investment in industrial and infrastructure projects. Africa can realize the opportunity for growth it offers stakeholders and investors, by meeting the challenges of underdeveloped infrastructure, energy constraints and lack of industrial capacity.
It has been estimated that Africa’s railways alone require more than USD 170 bn to update existing infrastructure and to build new railway lines.
Thelo Infrastructure Development is passionate about taking on this challenge through its integrated railway model. We deliver solutions with the view to help unlock the many strategic levers that rail offers, including advancing regional integration, sustainability and socio-economic development, and helping to address the constraints of rail infrastructure and its funding – as well as its technological administrative and structural dimensions:
- Lack of investment in rail infrastructure We help unlock alternative financing solutions
- Constraints within current rail company structures We enable public and private sector participation for project effectiveness
- Major lack of efficient rail operations We help break free from the limitations of traditional railway cultures
- Lack of experienced human capital We put unrivalled development sector expertise in place for operational effectiveness
- Outmoded maintenance facilities We spend appropriately on equipment, personnel and facilities to manage and maintain infrastructure and equipment
- Long lead-time and cost of rolling stock Effective, integrated planning enables us to optimally meet future demand
- Dysfunctional train control systems Reliable communications are a primary and core element of all our rail projects