One of Africa’s newest major
rail investments is due to
become fully operational.
Coal mined at Moatize in
the central Tete province
will be exported through the
port of Nacala following the
completion of a 900-kilometre
rail corridor which passes
through Malawi.
The line was built through
a partnership between the
Vale group of Brazil and the
Mozambican state railway
Caminhos de ferro
do Moçambique
(CFM).
According
to Sociedade
Corredor
Logístico
Integrado
de Nacala
(SCLIN)
director José
Ottoni, it is
hoped to export
18 million tons
annually, rising to 22mta
by 2017, using 89 locomotives
and 1 862 wagons.
It is just one of a number
of lines that are due to be
upgraded or developed.
A recent study by the
Southern Africa Railways
Association (Sara) has
identified the need to reactivate
11 corridors in the region.
CFM chairman Victor Gomes
is quoted as saying
that the first
priority is the
Beira corridor,
where the aim is to
return “rail-friendly” cargo
such as fertiliser imports and
copper exports from Zambia
to rail.
He has also announced a plan to
introduce an express freight train
linking Mozambique, Zimbabwe
and Zambia.
Trains would take less
than 10 days to traverse
the thousand
kilometre
route.
Rail plans gaining traction
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