Government officials, business leaders, international partners, and experts will convene for a workshop on Thursday to lay the groundwork for the Master Plan of the Lobito Corridor, also known as the Benguela Railway.
The meeting, as reported by JA Online, will focus on mapping infrastructure gaps, discussing the design and significance of public-private partnerships, and exploring avenues for unlocking the corridor’s development potential.
Organized jointly by the Ministries of Planning and Transport, in collaboration with the World Bank, the workshop adopts the theme “Diversify more by unlocking the potential of national development.”
The Lobito Corridor concession, awarded to the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) consortium, was formalized on July 4, 2023, in the presence of the Presidents of Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Zambia.
Comprising Trafigura (49.5%), Mota-Engil (49.5%), and Vecturis SA (1%), LAR secured the management rights for the Lobito Corridor for a 30-year term after winning an international competition on November 4, 2022.
The consortium’s primary responsibility is to transport heavy loads and maintain the infrastructure of the Benguela Railway, with commitments to invest €455 million in Angola and €100 million in the DRC. These investments aim to enhance capacity, security, and infrastructure along the Lobito Corridor, including the acquisition of 35 locomotives and 500 carriages.
Stretching nearly 1,300 kilometers across Angola, traversing the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bié, and Moxico, the Lobito Railway Corridor extends further into the DRC towards Kolwezi and into Zambia, covering a total distance of 400 kilometers.
The workshop marks a significant step in fostering collaboration among stakeholders to maximize the socio-economic benefits of the Lobito Corridor, contributing to regional development and connectivity.
