Angola - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Alexandre Canas Discusses Lobito Railway's Strategic Importance at US-Africa Business Summit 1

Last week, Alexandre Canas, the country manager for Angola at Trafigura, participated in the Corporate Council on Africa’s US-Africa Business Summit held in Dallas. At the summit, Canas joined Angola’s Minister of Transport, Ricardo Viegas D’Abreu, on an AIPEX Angola-led panel to discuss the strategic significance of the Lobito railway. Trafigura is part of the consortium awarded a 30-year concession to operate the 1,300km Lobito railway, which traverses Angola to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. This railway is poised to become a vital link for trade and… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Angola Mining in DRC Transport and Logistics

The Lobito Corridor, a Route to African Development?

May 4, 2024May 4, 2024 Constance

In this article, Veronica Bolton Smith makes the case that the participating countries in the Lobito Corridor need to do more to become part of the $60 billion Electric Vehicle (EV) battery supply chain. The stakes are high for Africa as the EV battery market is anticipated to more than double in size to $141.6 billion by 2032, according to Apollo Research. A primary goal of the Lobito Corridor initiative is to improve and expand the existing railway and supporting infrastructure to allow efficient flows of critical raw materials from… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics Angola Mining in DRC Mining in Zambia

Lobito Corridor Master Plan brings together Government and partners on Thursday

April 23, 2024April 23, 2024 Constance

Government officials, business leaders, international partners, and experts will convene for a workshop on Thursday to lay the groundwork for the Master Plan of the Lobito Corridor, also known as the Benguela Railway. The meeting, as reported by JA Online, will focus on mapping infrastructure gaps, discussing the design and significance of public-private partnerships, and exploring avenues for unlocking the corridor’s development potential. Organized jointly by the Ministries of Planning and Transport, in collaboration with the World Bank, the workshop adopts the theme “Diversify more by unlocking the potential of… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics Angola Mining in DRC Mining in Zambia

Confronting the China Challenge in Africa: The Lobito Corridor

April 19, 2024April 19, 2024 Constance

The Lobito Corridor project in Africa is a significant infrastructure initiative aimed at creating a vital trade route. It seeks to connect the mineral-rich Democratic Republic of the Congo (“DRC”) and Zambia to Angola’s Atlantic coast port city of Lobito. This project holds particular interest for some Western nations, potentially serving as a counterpoint to China’s expansive Belt and Road Initiative (“BRI”). China remains a dominant economic force in Africa, having invested $1.8 billion in the first half of 2023 alone, marking a year-on-year increase of 4.4 percent. Chinese investments… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Angola Mining in DRC Transport and Logistics

US Calls For Progress On Zambia-Lobito Rail-Line

March 9, 2024March 9, 2024 Constance1 Comment

United States President JOE BIDEN’s Senior Advisor AMOS HOCHSTEIN has called for an accelerated path towards achieving a bankable concession agreement for the new Zambia-Lobito rail line. Mr. HOCHSTEIN says this must be aligned with host country laws, and coordinate additional investment projects that complement and benefit from the core transportation investment. He says the project will also come along with infrastructure investments in digital access, clean energy and energy supply chains, agribusiness and health. Mr. HOCHSTEIN has also expressed optimism that the construction of Lobito corridor will start in… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics Angola Mining in DRC Mining in Zambia

Lobito Atlantic Railway Assumes Control of Benguela Railway Operations

January 30, 2024January 30, 2024 Constance

In a significant development reported on January 25, the Lobito Atlantic Railway S.A. officially assumed operational control of the Benguela Railway, a pivotal rail infrastructure within the Lobito Corridor. The inaugural departure of the first two trains was sanctioned at 5:00, with the Board of Directors of the Caminho de Ferro de Benguela in attendance, as shared on Vecturis’ LinkedIn page. The Lobito Atlantic Railway S.A. represents a collaborative joint venture involving Trafigura, Mota-Engil, and Vecturis, tasked with managing the primary railway concession integral to the Lobito Corridor. A key… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Angola Transport and Logistics

All-American Rail Group Inks MOU to Assist Angola to Extend Northern Corridor Rail to DRC

January 30, 2024January 30, 2024 Constance

On December 9, 2023, the All-American Rail Group (“AARG”) codified its commitment to provide advisory services to Angola’s rail and infrastructure development through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Angola’s Ministry of Transport. The entire Lobito Corridor project is valued at $4.5 billion and includes infrastructure through more than 340 kilometers (i.e., 830 miles) of land through Angola, the DRC and Zambia. This MOU is related to the Angola portion of the track between Luanda, Angola’s capital, and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) southern city of… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Angola Transport and Logistics

CFM discusses Rail links Between South-Zambia and Namibia

December 9, 2023December 9, 2023 Constance

During the conference titled “Revitalization of Transport and Export Processes for Iron Ore and Ornamental Rocks in Southern Angola” on December 7th in Menongue, 84 attendees stressed the critical necessity of establishing railway connections in the region. Their focus was on expanding the Moçâmedes Railway (CFM) to create links between Menongue-Malanje (extending further to Zambia) and connecting Namibe to a terminal in Namibia. They urged for a link between Menongue-Malanje (leading to Zambia) via the Moçâmedes Railway (CFM) and another connection from Namibe to Namibia’s terminal. The initiative not only… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics Angola Infrastructural Development Mining in DRC Mining in Zambia

The Lobito Corridor: Washington’s Answer to Belt and Road in Africa

November 24, 2023November 27, 2023 Constance

Launched a decade ago, China’s Road and Belt Initiative is a colossal infrastructure and economic development project spanning across Asia, Europe, and Africa. To date, 52 African governments signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with China regarding the BRI and the initiative has translated into billions of dollars invested in the construction of roads, ports, railways, and other critical infrastructure. These projects are not only enhancing connectivity within the continent but also providing China with unprecedented access to Africa’s vast mineral wealth, particularly in countries like Zambia and the Democratic Republic… Read More Here

Angola Transport and Logistics

Porto do Lobito on a trade Facilitation platform

November 24, 2023November 24, 2023 Constance

The Lobito Port Company officially joined the Single Window for Trade Facilitation (SWIFT) on Monday, November 20th, by signing a protocol with the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This step integrates the Angolan company into a global platform for the sector, ushering in the era of the “paperless port” concept. This accession means that the Lobito Port Company will now operate within a platform shared by global port authorities and companies. This electronic interaction streamlines the process, allowing for a single declaration of necessary information for ship docking, as described by… Read More Here