Train Derailment on Angola’s Lobito Corridor Disrupts Copper and Sulfur Transport
A train derailment on Angola’s Lobito Corridor has disrupted the transportation of key commodities, including copper concentrates, the railway operator reported on Today.
The Lobito Corridor is a crucial trade route connecting the mineral-rich Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with Angola’s Lobito port on the Atlantic Ocean.
This corridor holds strategic importance for the United States and the European Union, both of which are seeking greater access to the minerals essential for the global shift to cleaner energy technologies.
The derailment occurred on Thursday between the Cavimbe and Cangumbe stations and involved a train carrying sulfur, according to a statement from Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR).
Fortunately, no casualties were reported. The company announced that repairs to the 400 meters of damaged track are expected to be completed within four days.
“LAR will prioritize passenger and fuel trains, with international sulfur and copper trains resuming thereafter,” the statement added.
LAR, a joint venture supported by global commodities trader Trafigura, Portuguese construction group Mota-Engil, and railway operator Vecturis, was awarded a 30-year concession in 2022 to operate the 1,300-kilometer rail network.
SOURCE:mining.com
