Nauru government officials meet with Unirail officials in Dubai. Photo: Facebook / The Government of the Republic of Nauru
Nauru's government officials have met with an Indian railway solutions contractor, Unirail, in Dubai to discuss "a cost-effective method for transporting phosphate rock".
In a statement on Monday, the Nauru government said the country's Minister for Nauru Phosphate Corporation (Ronphos) Shadlog Bernicke and Ronphos officials met with Unirail officials "to discuss a desktop study titled Sustainable Transport for Nauru - The Railway Solution for RonPhos.
It said that Unirail, an infrastructure company, focuses on various railway operations, including the development and maintenance of railways, locomotive management, and cargo handling.
Bernicke met with Unirail's managing director and CEO Imtiaz Farooqi, and associate vice president Satish Babu.
"The discussions centred on developing a cost-effective method for transporting phosphate rock in Nauru, covering the entire process from mining to shipment. This initiative seeks to promote economic development and enhance cost efficiency," the statement said.
"It will involve a feasibility study to restore the railway infrastructure previously used by the phosphate industry, potentially creating jobs in railway operations and achieving an estimated 82 percent reduction in fuel consumption and emissions compared to the current truck-based system."
The government said that the proposed railway system is also expected to enhance the speed and efficiency of phosphate transport, supporting RonPhos' goal of increasing shipment and export volumes.
It added that the Unirail team plans to visit Nauru in the coming months to conduct a detailed feasibility study and assess the technical requirements for the project's implementation.
