Transport and Logistics - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

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

International Economy Transport and Logistics

U.S. Secretary of State Travels to Africa on Four-Nation Tour

January 22, 2024January 22, 2024 Constance

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has undertaken a four-nation tour of Africa to boost infrastructure investment and trade with the continent.During the tour, Blinken will visit Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Angola. The six-day tour, which began on 21 January in Cape Verde, will focus on regional security, conflict prevention, democracy promotion, and trade, with particular emphasis being placed on the U.S.’s strategic partnership with Angola. Blinken is expected to expand on the Biden Administration’s partnership with Angola in the areas of economic investment, food security, health and… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Mining in DRC Transport and Logistics

Zambia’s Transport Minister Commends Ratification of Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Corridor

January 22, 2024January 22, 2024 Constance

Zambia’s Transport and Logistics Minister, Frank Tayali, expresses immense satisfaction following the recent ratification of the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Corridor. This development, involving the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, and Zambia, is poised to be a game-changer, fostering economic growth not only within member countries but also beyond. Tayali underscores the significance of this corridor in propelling economic development, aligning with the Zambian Government’s vision to transform the nation into a pivotal transport and logistics hub within the region. This strategic move resonates with the government’s broader goal of steering Zambia… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Battery Metals Cobalt Mining in DRC Transport and Logistics

The Lobito Corridor Project’s Strategic Impact on Sustainability and Global Influence

January 15, 2024January 15, 2024 Constance

In the ever-evolving landscape of electric vehicles (EVs), a new challenge is emerging that extends beyond charging station accessibility: the availability of a critical mineral – cobalt. This heavy metal, predominantly sourced from central Africa, plays a pivotal role in EV batteries, and its scarcity poses a potential hindrance to the widespread adoption of EVs in the United States. To address this concern and bolster the global supply of cobalt and other essential minerals, the United States is investing significantly in a groundbreaking infrastructure initiative in Africa. The Lobito Corridor… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics International

Angola: Port of Lobito Records Improved Ship Movements

January 12, 2024January 12, 2024 Constance

Angola’s second largest port, the Port of Lobito, has recorded an increase of 7.57% in ship movement since 2022, with 351 ships docked at the port handling 1,332,451 tons of cargo in 2023. Announced by Celso Rosas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Port of Lobito, it was highlighted that the port collected revenues of more than $16.6 million in 2023. Despite an increase in ship movements, however, the Port of Lobito recorded a reduction of 14.9% in terms of tons of cargo while simultaneously recording a decrease… Read More Here

Copper Mining in DRC Transport and Logistics

Delayed Copper Ore Export Sparks Lobito’s Railways Interest

January 9, 2024January 9, 2024 Constance

The planned export of 960 tons of raw copper ore from the Kolwezi region in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) faced a delay, shifting its scheduled start from the 8th to the 18th of this month. Artur Silva, the Commercial Director of Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR), provided this update. Silva didn’t offer specific reasons for the shipment date change or the cargo’s final destination, mentioning that the copper was being bagged at the Multipurpose Terminal of the Port of Lobito before being containerized. He highlighted that the upcoming shipment… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Copper Mining in Zambia Transport and Logistics

Ivanhoe Mines’ Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex Begins Exports Through Lobito Atlantic Rail Corridor

January 2, 2024January 2, 2024 Constance

Ivanhoe Mines Executive Co-Chair Robert Friedland and President Marna Cloete announce today January 2nd that the first shipment of copper concentrate from the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex has arrived by rail at the Atlantic Ocean port of Lobito, in Angola. The first shipment is a part of the trial tonnage under the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between Lobito Atlantic International SARL (LAI or the Consortium) and Kamoa Copper S.A. (Kamoa Copper) on August 18, 2023. The rail line, linking the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Copperbelt to the port of… Read More Here

Copper Mining in DRC Transport and Logistics

First Cargo Train of Copper Ore Arrives at Lobito

January 2, 2024January 2, 2024 Constance

On Sunday morning, December 31st, Lobito witnessed the arrival of a groundbreaking cargo train carrying 960 tons of unprocessed copper ore from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Kolwezi region. Departing from the Luau station in Moxico province on a Friday evening at 4:30 PM, the seventeen-vehicle train, including a GE C30ACi locomotive and 16 LC-type wagons, traveled 1,289 kilometers for 38 hours to reach the Lobito Commercial Port. This monumental arrival signaled the first ore shipment post the transfer agreement of railway services and logistics support for the Lobito Corridor… Read More Here

Transport and Logistics Infrastructural Development

Top 5 Rail Projects to Watch in Africa

December 27, 2023December 27, 2023 Constance

Positive GDP growth, new energy and mining developments, and growing competitiveness of regional supply chains have resulted in surging demand for the development of Africa’s railway sector. As the continent undergoes unprecedented economic development – driven by fast-growing populations and rapid urbanization – Africa’s transport industry is poised to expand and support trade activities, while reducing carbon emissions and lowering transport costs. Accordingly, several African countries have partnered with international financial and development institutions in recent years with the objective of attracting finance to invest in enhanced rail infrastructure throughout… Read More Here