China fast-tracks Angola’s infrastructure development

Rail and port development
remains a key priority for
the Angolan government
with upgrades under way
and contracts being awarded
to companies across the
globe.
According to Roger
Ballard-Tremeer, chief
executive of the South
Africa-Angola Chamber
of Commerce, the Italians
have recently been awarded
the contract of building
a bridge over the Congo
River. “This will be quite a
dramatic undertaking due to
the width and velocity of the
river. This bridge will make
provision for both road and
rail.”
He said the government
in the country was so
determined to upgrade and
develop its infrastructure
that Luanda now had several
ports, facilitating the easy
movement of cargo intended
for specific projects.
“Any cargo for the oil and
gas industry, for example, is
facilitated through the Port
of Sonils. If you directed
it to the general port in the
city, which some time ago
was extremely congested,
you would be in trouble
as it would take weeks for
your cargo to arrive and be
cleared. Should you use the
correct port though, it is an
extremely smooth and quick
procedure.”
He said the country was
going out of its way to
ensure the easy movement
of freight and that meant
looking at ports and railways
especially, as well as road.
But, said Ballard-Tremeer,
Angola’s positive outlook
had much to do with the
arrival of China in the
country.
“If China had not come
on the Angolan scene it
would have taken decades
for the country to achieve
what it has. In recent years
China has made available to
Angola $15 billion of credit
lines.
“The primary ports
and railways of Luanda,
Lobito and Namibe along
with the secondary ports of
Cabinda, Soyo and Amboim
are all being upgraded in
some form or another,”
said Ballard-Tremeer. “The
outlook is for a transformed
Angola. The country is
going out of its way to get
its act together.”