Plans to resurrect the potentially game-changing western rail link from the Copperbelt to the Angolan port of Lobito are slowly gathering steam.
The rail link from Zambia to Angola has been on the cards since 2013 at least. Historically there was a rail link between Ndola and Lobito through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but this was destroyed during civil wars in Angola and the DRC.
South African company Grindrod partnered with the North West Rail Company to build the line through Zambia and the DRC, but the project has been mired in red tape. In the meantime Angola has completed work on the 1 348km Caminho de Ferro de Benguela (CFB) railway line to the DRC border. Lobito port has also been upgraded.
When – or if – the line is operational it will provide a new and shorter rail link for mining exports and imports than Dar es Salaam, Beira or Walvis Bay.
As such it has huge implications for planned investment in logistics infrastructure in Tanzania, Mozambique and Namibia.
According to media reports work is due to start on the first phase of the line. Finances have been raised, but government red tape has slowed down the process.
This leaves the Angolans with what has been described as a “ghost railway line” which at present carries mainly passengers.
