Delayed Copper Ore Export Sparks Lobito’s Railways Interest
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 is anticipated to be accommodated at the Mineiro Terminal, operated by LAR, shifting from the current operations at the multipurpose terminal.
The Multipurpose Container and General Cargo Terminal at the Port of Lobito covers 241,540.94 square meters and boasts a berth of 1,199 linear meters. It’s equipped to handle over 600 thousand tons of non-containerized cargo and 250 thousand TEUs annually.
The Mining Terminal’s development appears strategically geared towards exploiting the abundant mineral resources of the DRC, with the Port of Lobito providing a swift route to supply Asian superpowers.
Managed by the corridor consortium, this infrastructure has a direct railway link and can handle an average of three million tons annually. It accommodates ships of up to 50 thousand tons due to its draft of 15.30 meters.
This recent shipment delay follows the inaugural train journey of 17 vehicles, including a GE locomotive and 16 LC type wagons, covering 1,289 kilometers from Luau station in Moxico to Lobito’s Commercial Port in 38 hours.
This experimental train marks the beginning of many similar journeys expected from January 2024. The aim is to transport ten thousand tons of ores from the Katanga region in the DRC through the Lobito Corridor.
