Transport and Logistics - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

U.S. Aid Freeze Puts Africa’s Critical Minerals Corridor at Risk

February 21, 2025February 21, 2025 Constance0 comment

A billion-dollar expansion of Africa’s most strategic U.S.-backed critical minerals project is now in limbo due to a foreign aid freeze under the Trump administration—creating an opening for China to expand its influence. At the center of the crisis is the Lobito Corridor railway project, a key infrastructure initiative designed to transport copper and cobalt from the Central African Copperbelt—home to some of the world’s richest deposits—to the Angolan coast for export to Western markets. The project was set to receive funding from the U.S. International Development Finance Corp. (DFC)… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Transport and Logistics

Minister of Transport Highlights Lobito Corridor’s Role in Zambia’s EV Hub Growth

February 16, 2025February 16, 2025 Constance0 comment

Zambia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, Hon. Frank Tayali, has underscored the Lobito Corridor Project as a transformative initiative that will position Zambia as a leading hub for electric vehicle (EV) battery production and assembly. Speaking at the Lobito Corridor Stakeholder Discussion during the recent Mining Indaba in South Africa, Hon. Tayali reaffirmed the government’s commitment to leveraging the project’s benefits through regulatory reforms in the EV industry. The Lobito Corridor is a vital trade route connecting Angola’s Port of Lobito to the mineral-rich regions of the Democratic Republic of… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Mining in DRC Transport and Logistics

SADC Member States Address Kasumbalesa Border Issues for Improved Regional Trade

February 14, 2025February 14, 2025 Constance0 comment

From February 4-7, representatives from Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States convened in Harare to address the persistent challenges at the Kasumbalesa Border Post, a vital trade hub between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The meeting, organized by the SADC Secretariat and supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), aimed to find lasting solutions to congestion, trade facilitation delays, infrastructure shortcomings, and security concerns affecting truck drivers and the broader trade community. Attended by officials from 10 SADC Member States—including Angola,… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics Angola Mining in DRC Mining in Zambia

SADC Launches Lobito Corridor Transit Secretariat to Boost Regional Trade and Infrastructure

January 27, 2025January 27, 2025 Constance0 comment

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, in partnership with the three Lobito Corridor Member States, has officially launched the Lobito Corridor Transit Transport Interim Secretariat Headquarters in Lobito, Angola. This announcement follows the 2nd Lobito Corridor Committee of Ministers meeting held on January 22, 2025. At the meeting, Honourable Ricardo Viegas de Abreu, Minister of Transport for Angola, emphasized the strategic role of the Lobito Corridor in promoting intra-African trade and enhancing Africa’s competitiveness in the global market. He explained that planned infrastructure developments would reduce transit times and… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics News in Brief

SADC Ministers Convene in Lobito to Discuss Agency’s Organizational Framework

January 22, 2025January 22, 2025 Constance

Members of the Committee of Ministers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are meeting today in Benguela to deliberate on the organizational structure of the Agency. This marks the second meeting of the group, held in the rail-port city of Lobito. The discussions aim to refine the framework and operations of the Agency, aligning it with SADC’s goals of regional cooperation and sustainable development. Lobito, renowned for its strategic position and infrastructure connecting inland regions to international markets, serves as a fitting venue for this important gathering. This meeting… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Infrastructural Development Transport and Logistics

$700 Million Set for Phase One of Kinshasa-Brazzaville Bridge Project

January 19, 2025January 19, 2025 Constance

The total cost of the first phase of the Kinshasa-Brazzaville road-rail bridge construction project is estimated at $700 million. This figure was announced during a restitution meeting held on Wednesday, January 15, 2024, and chaired by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa. The meeting brought together delegations of experts from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Congo. DRC’s Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works, Alexis Gisaro, emphasized that this cost serves as a baseline, with the project expected to evolve over multiple phases. “Many other projects will be… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Transport and Logistics

Zambia Railways Crucial to Copper Transportation

January 13, 2025January 13, 2025 Constance

Copperbelt Province Minister Elisha Matambo has emphasized the critical role of Zambia Railways Limited in transporting the projected three million tonnes of copper. He highlighted that the revitalization of the mining sector in the province requires the active involvement of Zambia Railways in the copper transportation process. Mr. Matambo reassured that the government will continue to support the company, recognizing it as a key player in achieving the country’s copper production goals. Meanwhile, newly appointed Zambia Railways Managing Director, Cuthbert Malindi, affirmed the company’s commitment to aligning with the government’s… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Mining in Zambia Transport and Logistics

Zambia and DRC to Clear 500 Trucks Daily to Ease Kasumbalesa Border Congestion

January 12, 2025January 20, 2025 Constance

Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have agreed to allow the clearance of at least 500 trucks per day to address the congestion at the Kasumbalesa border on the Copperbelt. This decision comes in response to the over 3,000 trucks marooned on the Zambian side of the border. Katanga Governor Jacques Katwe announced that another measure to alleviate the situation is extending the working hours for customs officers, from six hours to 20 hours, at the Kasumbalesa, Mokambo, and Sakanya border posts. Speaking at a meeting in Chililabombwe,… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Angola Governance Mining in Zambia Transport and Logistics

DRC Senate Approves Ratification of Lobito Corridor Agreement

December 15, 2024December 15, 2024 Constance

The Senate of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ratified the agreement establishing the Lobito Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (AFTTCL) during a plenary session on December 2, 2024. The agreement, signed on January 27, 2023, in Lobito, Angola, involves a partnership between the DRC, Angola, and Zambia. The bill, first presented to the Senate on November 22, 2024, was referred to the “External Relations” Committee for detailed review. The committee, led by Senator Lutundula Apala Pen Apala, recommended ratification, emphasizing the corridor’s strategic importance to the DRC’s economy and… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Angola Mining in DRC Transport and Logistics

U.S. Investment Boosts Africa’s Strategic Rail Link for Mining and Economic Growth

December 6, 2024December 6, 2024 Constance

The Lobito Corridor is set to become the largest American investment in African railways, according to US President Joe Biden. This strategic railway link, connecting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Angola, is poised to transform the transportation of essential metals used in vehicle manufacturing and wind turbines from mining sites to the port. Stretching 1,344 kilometers, the Lobito Corridor is designed to facilitate the transport of critical minerals, including copper and cobalt, which are vital for the global energy transition. The DRC, responsible for 70% of the world’s… Read More Here