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.”