Lobito Atlantic Railway

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The Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) is a joint venture, operating trains along the Benguela railway corridor from the coast of Angola into the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Contents

Route

The railway runs from Lobito, on Angola's Atlantic coast, 1700km eastwards to Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with a proposed link to Zambia. [1]

Joint venture

The Lobito Atlantic Railway is a joint venture between Trafigura, Mota-Engil, and Vecturis, an independent rail operator. Trafigura plans to invest $455 million in Angola and up to $100 million in DR Congo. [2] [3]

We see the Lobito rail corridor as a partnership between the private and public sectors. A partnership of three countries – Angola, the DRC and Zambia and of three companies – Trafigura, Vecturis and Mota-Engil

— Jeremy Weir, Trafigura executive chairman and CEO [4]

The G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) prioritizes infrastructure projects in developing countries, including through a series of investments in the Lobito Corridor to connect the African continent from sea to sea. In October 2023, PGI signed an MOU between the U.S., Angola, the DRC, the EU, Zambia, the African Development Bank, and Africa Finance Corporation to develop the Corridor, initiating a new rail line expansion to Zambia. [5] In alliance, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), in February 2024, approved [6] a $250 million investment, [7] increased, in June 2024, with a $553 million loan for development of the LAR. [8]

Operations

The company[ which? ] was awarded the concession to manage the Lobito rail corridor for 30 years in 2022. [2] A ceremony was held in Lobito on 4 July 2023 to mark the transfer, attended by the presidents of Angola, DR Congo, and Zambia. [2] [9] [10]

The LAR will provide "a faster and safer route" for passenger trains in Angola, including the "Ombaka Express". [11] There are also plans to improve connectivity for copper and cobalt mines in DR Congo, [12] especially Kamoa-Kakula. [13]

The railway anticipates operating at least 1555 wagons and 30 locomotives in Angola; more if DR Congo is included, [14] with the initial 275 wagons ordered from a South African manufacturer[ which? ] in June 2024. [15]

MV Lindsaylou, a bulk cargo vessel, was the first ship to dock at the LAR mineral terminal at the Port of Lobito, launching the venture's port operation in Angola on July 12, 2024. The cargo ship held sulphur to be transferred to LAR cargo trains for shipment to the DRC and used in refined copper production in the Katanga region. [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

Transport in Angola comprises:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo</span>

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This article is about the Transport in Zambia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TAZARA Railway</span> Railway in Tanzania and Zambia

The Tazara Railway, also called the Uhuru Railway or the Tanzam Railway, is a railway in East Africa linking the port of Dar es Salaam in east Tanzania with the town of Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia's Central Province. The single-track railway is 1,860 km (1,160 mi) long and is operated by the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benguela railway</span> Railway line in Angola

The Benguela Railway is a Cape gauge railway line that runs through Angola from west to east, being the largest and most important railway line in the country. It also connects to Tenke in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and to the Cape to Cairo Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zambia Railways</span> National railway company of Zambia

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Trafigura Group Pte. Ltd. is a multinational commodities company domiciled in Singapore, with major regional hubs in Geneva, Houston, Montevideo and Mumbai, founded in 1993. The company trades in base metals and energy. It is the world's largest private metals trader and second-largest oil trader having built or purchased stakes in pipelines, mines, smelters, ports and storage terminals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in Angola</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beira–Lobito Highway</span> Road in Africa

The Beira–Lobito Highway or TAH 9 is Trans-African Highway 9 in the transcontinental road network being developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Development Bank (ADB), and the African Union. The route has a length of 3,523 km (2,189 mi) crossing Angola, the most southerly part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and central Mozambique.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mota-Engil</span> Portuguese group

Mota-Engil is a Portuguese group in the sectors of civil construction, public works, port operations, waste, water, and logistics. The chairman of the board of directors is António Mota and Gonçalo Moura Martins is the company's CEO. Jorge Coelho led the group's Executive Committee from 2008 to 2013 and was a consultant in Mota-Engil's Strategic Advisory Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Railway stations in Angola</span>

Railway stations in Angola include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Railway stations in Zambia</span>

Railway stations in Zambia include:

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">T2 road (Zambia)</span> Road in Zambia

"Zambia : President Lungu commissions the construction of the 1.2 billion U.S dollar Lusaka-Ndola Dual Carriageway". Lusaka Times. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 2021-12-09.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T3 road (Zambia)</span> Road in Zambia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port of Lobito</span> Port in Angola

The Port of Lobito is an Angolan port located in the city of Lobito, in the province of Benguela. It is connected to the commercial area of the city and the neighborhood of Canata. It is located in Lobito Bay, which is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Lobito Peninsula.

The Lobito–Dar es Salaam Railway is a planned narrow gauge railway line that connects the Angolan port city of Lobito to the Tanzanian port city of Dar es Salaam, through the Zambian city of Kapiri Mposhi. It is an African transcontinental railroad connecting the Atlantic and Indian oceans and it is financed by China. The initiative is planned in tandem with the country's US$10 billion standard-gauge railway infrastructure development, to help Tanzania secure port business from Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Port of Bujumbura is a port on Lake Tanganyika serving the city of Bujumbura, Burundi.

References

  1. ↑ Lobito Atlantic Railway concession launched Railway Gazette. Access date: 2024-08-23
  2. 1 2 3 Boechat, Geraldine. "Presidents of Angola, Zambia and DRC get together to launch Lobito corridor". Medafrica Times. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  3. ↑ "Transfer Commences Of The Concession Of Railway Services And Support Logistics Of The Lobito Corridor In Angola To The Lobito Atlantic Railway". Railways Africa. 10 July 2023.
  4. ↑ "Angola's Lobito corridor transferred to private freight concessionaire". International Railway Journal. Retrieved Feb 23, 2024.
  5. ↑ Seven signatories for Lobito corridor extension MoU Rail Journal. Access date: 2024-08-23
  6. ↑ DFC announces new financing for Lobito Corridor Access date: 2024-08-23
  7. ↑ "United States looks to invest in Lobito Atlantic Railway Corridor". Mining Review. 24 May 2023.
  8. ↑ Washington poised to lend $553 million to Lobito Atlantic Railway Africa Intelligence. Access date: 2024-08-23
  9. ↑ "Concession for railway services transferred to Lobito Atlantic Railway in Angola".
  10. ↑ https://twitter.com/Presidence_RDC/status/1676249624389070850
  11. ↑ "Lobito Atlantic Railway concession launched". Railway Gazette International. 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  12. ↑ "Angola's Lobito Corridor Railway Handed Over To International Operator | ConstructAfrica". constructafrica.com. Retrieved Feb 23, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Ivanhoe Mines: United States Announces Support for Development of Lobito Atlantic Railway Corridor at the 2023 G7 Summit". Junior Mining Network. May 24, 2023. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  14. ↑ Ndebele, Lenin. "Trafigura-led consortium pledges R10.5bn for key rail project to link Angola, DRC and Zambia". News24. Retrieved Feb 23, 2024.
  15. ↑ A South African manufacturer will supply 275 new container wagons for the Lobito railway project Access date: 2024-08-23
  16. ↑ Consortium receives maiden vessel at Port of Lobito as concession takes shape Mining Weekly. Access date: 2024-08-23
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