Transport and Logistics - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Progress on TAZARA Corridor Deal Expected as Zambia Eyes Railway Expansion 1

The Zambian government anticipates finalizing a commercialization agreement for the TAZARA (Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority) corridor by the second quarter of 2024, Transport Minister Frank Tayali revealed. A joint technical working group involving Zambia, Tanzania, and China is actively exploring avenues to advance this agreement, focusing on bolstering the corridor’s operations. Minister Tayali affirmed that both Tanzania and Zambia are aligned in welcoming China’s involvement in managing the TAZARA corridor. The recent discussions during President Hakainde Hichilema’s visit to China also encompassed strategies to enhance the corridor’s efficiency and commercial viability.… Read More Here

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

Mining in DRC Mining in Zambia Transport and Logistics

DRC and Zambia Formalize Historic Agreement for Chalwe-Kabila Border Post Development

November 23, 2023November 23, 2023 Constance

The governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia inked a significant bilateral agreement on November 17, 2023, in Lusaka, Zambia, marking a pivotal step toward the implementation and operation of the Chalwe-Kabila single border post. This post is a key component of the Kasomeno-Mwenda toll road project, developed by GED Africa Ltd. Representing the DRC government, Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde’s presence was symbolized by Minister of State for Infrastructure, Alexis Gisaro, accompanied by Minister of Foreign Trade Jean Lucien Bussa Tongba and Prime Minister’s Special Advisor, Romulus… Read More Here

Angola Partnership Transport and Logistics

World Bank Collaborates with Benguela Railways on Lobito Corridor Implementation

November 17, 2023November 17, 2023 Constance

A team from the World Bank partnered with Benguela Railways’ leadership to understand the Lobito Corridor’s implementation process. During the engagement, Mosheta Lukombo, the administrator overseeing Administration and Finance at CFB, elucidated that the Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium, managing the Lobito Corridor, plays a vital role in regional integration, infrastructure enhancement, and facilitating the transportation of large goods. The World Bank delegation visited the Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium’s workshops within the public company, including the operations control center. They assessed the preparedness of the equipment essential to support train circulation… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Cobalt Copper Mining in DRC Transport and Logistics

Resolution Reached in DRC Truckers’ Strike Affecting Copper and Cobalt Exports

November 15, 2023November 15, 2023 Constance

A recent truckers’ strike in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which disrupted copper and cobalt exports, has been successfully resolved, according to sources familiar with the situation. The strike, initiated by drivers in Kolwezi at the end of October, primarily centered around demands for increased danger pay for transporting green-energy metals. This standoff posed a threat to major mining companies such as Glencore Plc, CMOC Group Ltd., and Ivanhoe Mines Ltd., all of which operate significant mines in the region. As the world’s leading cobalt producer and a major copper… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Copper Transport and Logistics

Ivanhoe Mines Addresses Media Reports on Trucking Strike in the DRC

November 12, 2023November 12, 2023 Constance

KOLWEZI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO – Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN; OTCQX: IVPAF) responded to media reports regarding the status of trucking shipments in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) concerning a third-party labor dispute. Operations at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex continued as usual, and as of November 9, significant shipments occurred from the mine gate, with additional shipments taking place in the following days. Ivanhoe Mines’ management proactively collaborated with the DRC government and local authorities to address any potential interim effects on outbound shipping. However, the company did not… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics Copper Mining in DRC Mining in Zambia

Resumption of Copper Transport in the DRC Sparks Concerns Over Border Bottlenecks

November 10, 2023November 10, 2023 Constance

Trucks loaded with thousands of tons of copper in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have recommenced their journey toward the Zambian border, accompanied by security escorts, after a recent wildcat strike, according to sources briefed on the matter. Approximately 2,700 trucks, carrying around 89,000 tons of copper, had been stranded in Kolwezi due to drivers demanding a risk allowance of $700 per journey, as reported by Reuters on November 7. The sudden release of the trucks is expected to worsen the situation at the border, where existing bottlenecks were… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics Angola Mining in DRC Mining in Zambia

Railway Expansion Enhances Trade and Cooperation Between Angola and Zambia

November 6, 2023November 6, 2023 Constance

The expansion of the railway line from Munhango to Luau, including sections of Marco 25 to the commune of Lumbala Caquengue in Moxico, holds the promise of bolstering trade and investment between Angola and Zambia. These sentiments were expressed by the Governor of the Angolan province of Moxico, Ernesto Muangala, during the 1st Forum for Regional Cooperation and Cultural Exchange between the provinces of Moxico and Northwest Zambia, which commenced in Luena. During the forum, Robert Lihefu, the Minister of the Zambian province, emphasized the need for support infrastructures along… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Battery Metals Mining in DRC Transport and Logistics

US breaths new life into the Lobito Corridor to challenge china’s Dominance for Critical minerals

November 3, 2023November 3, 2023 Constance

The United States is making a determined effort to catch up with China in a region that has become pivotal to the green transition: Africa’s “Copperbelt.” Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, rich in minerals vital for battery and renewable energy production, have become the latest battleground for influence between Washington and Beijing. The Biden administration, in its pursuit of challenging China’s supremacy, has seized an opportunity to breathe new life into a century-old railway connecting crucial African mines to an Atlantic Ocean port, known as the Lobito corridor.… Read More Here