Transport and Logistics - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Trafigura-Led Lobito Rail Upgrade Awaits Its First Users

September 5, 2023September 5, 2023 Constance

African metal producers are reluctant to make long-term commitments to use a railway a Trafigura-led consortium plans to upgrade, four sources with knowledge of the matter said. Known as Lobito Atlantic Railway, the consortium pitched the overhaul of the line, historically known as the Benguela Railway, that links resource-rich Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the port of Lobito in Angola to bypass road congestion and avoid long delays on the copper and cobalt route. So far only Ivanhoe Mines is known to have signed a non-binding agreement to use the Lobito railway… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics Mining in DRC

The railway project linking Tanzania, Burundi and the DRC making progress

August 30, 2023August 30, 2023 Constance

The President of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimye, visited Kinshasa from August 27 to 28, announced the progress of the cooperation agreements signed in July 2021 between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi. Among these agreements is the Memorandum of Understanding concerning the joint project for the development of a standard gauge railway (SGR) linking Uvinza, Musongati, Gitega, Uvira and Kindu, with a Gitega-Bujumbura-Uvira-Kindu section. During his statement, President Ndayishimye stressed the importance of this project for the Congolese, Burundian and Tanzanian populations, by promoting regional trade. He noted that the… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Copper Transport and Logistics

Ivanhoe Mines Selects Lobito Corridor as Preferred Logistics Route

August 22, 2023August 22, 2023 Constance

Canadian mining firm Ivanhoe Mines’ subsidiary in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kamoa Copper, has established a collaborative alliance with logistics enterprise Lobito Atlantic International Sarl. This strategic partnership aims to facilitate the transportation of copper concentrate extracted from the Kamoa-Kakula mine, situated in the DRC, through the Lobito Corridor. The focal point of this collaboration is the utilization of a 1,732 km railway line extending from Lobito in Angola to Kolwezi in the DRC. This railway route presents a cost-effective and practical means to convey essential minerals from… Read More Here

Copper Mining in DRC Mining in Zambia Transport and Logistics

Lobito Corridor to transport 10,000 tons of copper from DRC

August 18, 2023August 18, 2023 Constance

In the last quarter of 2023, ten thousand tons of copper concentrate, extracted by the Canadian company “Ivanhoe Mines,” will be transported through the Lobito Corridor (Benguela), reducing travel time on the railway link between countries in Southern Africa. For this purpose, Ivanhoe Mines, which operates the copper mines of Kamoa-Kakula in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) consortium, which manages the railway line of the Lobito Corridor, to transport this ore. The signing of this memorandum, announced… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Cobalt Copper Mining in DRC Transport and Logistics

Southern African Governments Urged to Prioritize Infrastructure for Lucrative Minerals

August 3, 2023August 3, 2023 Constance

The vast mineral reserves in Africa, constituting 30% of the world’s total, are a treasure trove of resources essential for powering the green revolution. Cobalt, copper, manganese, and lithium, among others, hold tremendous potential for driving economic growth and sustainable development in the region. However, to fully capitalize on these lucrative minerals and avoid the resource curse, governments in southern Africa must prioritize significant infrastructure investments, especially in transportation and processing facilities, integral components of the mining value chain. Enhancing South African Exports through Infrastructure Investments Despite its mineral wealth,… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Petroleum Transport and Logistics

Zambia’s Energy Regulations Board (ERB) Implements Revised Fuel Prices

August 2, 2023August 2, 2023 Constance

In response to the recent fluctuations in international oil prices and exchange rates, the Energy Regulations Board (ERB) of Zambia has made significant adjustments to the pump prices of various petroleum products. Effective from the beginning of August, consumers will experience changes in the cost of petrol, diesel, kerosene, and Jet A-1. Petrol prices per liter will now be set at 25 Kwacha 57 ngwee, up from the previous 24 Kwacha 93 ngwee, while diesel will be priced at 23 Kwacha 36 ngwee per liter, an increase from the earlier… Read More Here

Angola Mining in DRC Mining in Zambia Transport and Logistics

Angola, Zambia, and DRC to Export Minerals via Lobito Rail Corridor

July 17, 2023July 17, 2023 Constance

Minerals from the DRC and Zambia will now be exported via Angola’s Lobito rail corridor. Presidents Félix Tshisekedi (DRC), Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia) and João Lourenço (Angola) chaired the signing ceremony of an agreement for this purpose on Tuesday July 4th. “The full operationalization of this corridor will allow the opening up of the mines of Zambia and the DRC, as well as the access and the circulation of inputs essential to both the mining and agricultural industries”, indicated President Félix Antoine. Tshisekedi. The three Heads of State have conceded the operation… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics Angola Mining in DRC Mining in Zambia

Lobito Atlantic Railway Assumes Operatorship of Lobito Corridor

July 11, 2023July 11, 2023 Constance

The Municipal Administration of Lobito has officially handed over the concession of railway and logistics services of the Lobito Corridor to the Lobito Atlantic Railway, a joint venture comprising commodity company Trafigura; international construction and infrastructure firm Mota-Engil; and independent rail operator Vecturis. The transfer of the concession will see Lobito Atlantic Railway lead the operation, management and maintenance of a 1,300km railway connecting the Lobito port to Luau in eastern Angola over a period of 30 years. The railway will extend an additional 400km, running through the Democratic Republic… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics Angola Mining in DRC Mining in Zambia

The Benguela Railway: A Testimony of Friendship and Development

July 7, 2023July 7, 2023 Constance

In an extraordinary feat of engineering, the Benguela Railway in Angola stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and the determination to overcome monumental challenges. As the final piece of the east-west transcontinental link that connects the Indian and Atlantic oceans, this remarkable project, built by the China Railway 20 Bureau Group Corporation (CR20), has revolutionized regional connectivity and transformed the African rail network. With its immense socio-economic impact, the Benguela Railway is more than just a transportation artery; it symbolizes the enduring friendship between the peoples of… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics Angola News in Brief

Lobito Corridor to Generate Two Thousand Jobs in the Initial Phase

July 6, 2023July 6, 2023 Constance

Around two thousand jobs will be created along the Lobito Corridor when it is fully operational, according to Angola’s Minister of Transport, Ricardo D’Abreu. “On the one hand, there are direct jobs related to all those who will be directly involved in port and railway operations and indirect jobs via other sectors”, he stressed on Tuesday July 4th, in statements. For the consortium, he advanced, there is an obligation to invest in the order of US$450 million in the near future. Read More Here