The head of the Transport portfolio revealed that the project will create 2000 direct jobs, considering it "of great importance", as it will facilitate the connection of this region of the country to the Lobito Corridor.
The minister, in statements on the sidelines of the Local Governance Council meeting, cited by Angop, said that with the start of construction, still this year, it is expected that at least 50 kilometers of the projected 260 will be inaugurated, which will boost the economy of the Eastern region in all degrees.
According to Ricardo D'Abreu, this is the first new railway project to be started after independence, whose infrastructure will help the provinces of Lunda Sul and Lunda Norte in the transportation of goods and people.
This project, he said, is included in the annual Public Investment Program (PIP) for debt relief, writes Angop.
João Lourenço inaugurates Saurimo Circular Road
Still within the Transport domain, Saurimo now has a new circular road. This is the Saurimo/EN230 Circular Road, inaugurated this Tuesday by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, who has been carrying out a two-day working visit to Lunda Sul since Monday.
"The work, carried out by the consortium formed by Omatapalo Engenharia e Construção and Mota Engil Angola, is 60 kilometers long and represents one of the most important advances in the modernization of the region's road network," says a statement sent to VerAngola.
The project created more than 3000 direct and indirect local jobs.
"Among the improvements implemented are the widening of the road from seven to 11 meters wide, the construction of a roadway with two traffic lanes measuring 3.5 meters on each side, shoulders, sidewalks, public lighting, horizontal signage and drainage systems," says the statement.
The project, which began in 2020, was "designed with the most modern technical standards, in order to guarantee its durability", said the spokesperson for the Omatapalo group, Edmar Manuel.
"This project was designed with the most modern technical standards, in order to guarantee its durability. We believe that this is a project that will bring countless benefits and its completion is an important step for the development of this region, since, in addition to improving the circulation of people and goods, it brings direct advantages to the competitiveness of local companies," he said.
The project involved an investment of approximately 42.15 billion kwanzas. "With an investment of around 42.15 billion kwanzas, National Road 230 – Saurimo Circular Road was built to simplify the interprovincial transport of goods and improve the mobility of the population. Furthermore, the project represents a significant milestone for the productive sector by allowing for a greater flow of products and thus boosting economic growth in the region", the statement further states.
Present at the inauguration ceremony were the Minister of Public Works, Urbanism and Housing, Carlos Alberto dos Santos, the Director General of the Angolan Roads Institute (INEA), Henrique Victorino, the Governor of Lunda Sul, Daniel Félix Neto, government entities, representatives of the inspection (ROJUAL – Project Management), contractors and traditional authorities.
