Angola - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

The Impact of Lobito Atlântico Railways on the Benguela Railway Corridor

June 28, 2024June 28, 2024 Constance

The management of the Benguela Railway (CFB) by the consortium Lobito Atlântico Railways (LAR), Trafigura, and Mota-Engil is expected to significantly enhance Angola’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), contributing between $1.6 billion to $3.4 billion annually over the next 30 years. This projection was shared by LAR administrator Ottoniel Manuel during a discussion on the Girassol television channel under the theme, “The Impact of the Lobito Corridor on the Angolan Economy and the SADC Region.” Manuel outlined the consortium’s ambitious plans for the railway’s future operations and its economic implications. Manuel… Read More Here

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

G-7 Summit Pledges Boost to African Infrastructure Investment

June 27, 2024June 27, 2024 Constance

At the G-7 summit in Puglia, Italy, global leaders reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering Africa’s infrastructure to spur economic growth and development on the continent. Co-chaired by US President Joseph Biden and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a special meeting focused on infrastructure development under the G7’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), aligning closely with Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa. Private sector representatives from Italy and the US, heavily invested in African ventures, also participated, emphasizing the importance of public-private collaboration. Italy made a significant announcement, pledging an… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics Angola Mining in DRC Mining in Zambia Press Release

Lobito Atlantic Railway orders new container wagons to transport goodsvia the Lobito Corridor

June 19, 2024June 19, 2024 Constance

Lobito, Angola, 19 June 2024 – The Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR), the concession holder for the operation, management and maintenance of the Lobito Corridor, has placed an order for 275 new container wagons from South African company Galison Manufacturing for an undisclosed sum. The container wagons will be delivered in three tranches with the first wagons due to arrive in Lobito from the fourth quarter of this year. They will be able to carry 10, 20 and 40 ft long containers, giving flexibility for the load transported. This order is… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics Angola Mining in DRC Mining in Zambia

Italy Joins US and EU in Promoting Sustainable Development Along Lobito Corridor

June 18, 2024June 18, 2024 Constance

On Friday, during the G7 meeting it hosted, Italy committed to joining the US and EU in efforts to promote sustainable development along the Lobito Corridor. This initiative aims to enhance collaboration and mobilize up to $320 million in investments to support core rail infrastructure and related projects, in synergy with the Green Infrastructure Alliance in Africa (AGIA). The Lobito Corridor is a significant railway infrastructure that traverses Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia, regions rich in minerals and oil. It connects Southern and Central Africa, providing access… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics Angola Mining in DRC Mining in Zambia

Lobito Corridor to Enhance Freight Capacity with 275 New Wagons from South Africa’s Galison Manufacturing

June 1, 2024June 1, 2024 Constance

In furtherance of the commitment to invest $455 million in Angola, the Lobito Atlantic Railway—a consortium of Trafigura, Mota-Engil, and Vecturis—has awarded a contract to South Africa’s Galison Manufacturing to supply 275 container wagons over 30 months. This investment, part of a larger procurement plan for 35 locomotives and 1555 wagons, aims to enhance the Lobito Corridor’s freight capacity. The Lobito Atlantic Railway, a consortium of Trafigura, Mota-Engil, and Vecturis, has previously pledged to invest $455 million in Angola, much of which will go towards procuring 35 locomotives and 1555… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics Angola Mining in DRC Mining in Zambia

Lobito Corridor’s Road Network in Angola Set To Receive €381.5 Million Upgrade

May 15, 2024May 20, 2024 Constance

The U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Dallas, Texas, announced a €381.5 million investment to upgrade Angola’s road network, focusing on the Lobito Corridor. The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) will contribute €85 million, with the rest funded by the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. and the U.S. Private Export Funding Corporation. Additional support comes from Standard Chartered Bank, Conduril, and Acrow. This project will improve 186 bridges and boost agriculture by enhancing access to mineral-rich regions, aiding in the diversification of Angola’s economy. Following last week’s U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Dallas, Texas,… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics Angola Mining in DRC

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

May 13, 2024May 13, 2024 Constance

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