Jorge Bengue, who was part of the delegation of European Union ambassadors visiting the provinces of Huambo and Bié, stressed that the experience gained with the Lobito Corridor has allowed preparations for the next stage to be accelerated: "It took us about three years to prepare the concession for the Lobito Corridor. It was a learning experience. Now we are about to launch the competition for the Southern Corridor".
The visit, which is taking place as part of the monitoring of projects financed and co-financed by the European Union (EU) in the Lobito Corridor, aimed to observe European initiatives on the ground.
The delegation, led by the EU delegation in Angola, includes nine of the 10 diplomats and their representatives accredited in Angola, as well as other entities related to infrastructure, chambers of commerce and central and local government officials.
The Moçâmedes Corridor concession includes not only the management and operation of the railway line that connects the interior of Huíla province to the port of Namibe, but also its future interconnection with Namibia and the requalification of the port of Namibe, transforming it into a regional logistics platform.
"The operator that wins the tender will have as one of the options the interconnection of Angola with Namibia", highlighted the minister.
The railway connection of the Lobito Corridor to Zambia is also moving forward, with studies already completed and the financial structuring phase underway, he added.
The strategy is part of the Railway Sector Development Programme 2023–2028, which foresees a total investment of 12.2 billion dollars, with financing divided between public and private funds.
The proposal to grant the Moçâmedes Corridor concession comes at a time when Angola wants to enhance its logistics and transport axes, with the intention that the Southern Corridor will serve as a driving force for industrial and mining development.
The plan includes six railway concessions on the three major existing lines: Benguela Railway (CFB), integrated into the Lobito Corridor and granted to the Lobito Atlantic Railway, Moçâmedes Railway (CFM) and Luanda Railway (CFL).
According to Jorge Bengue, the Moçâmedes Corridor has "different characteristics" from the Lobito Corridor.
While the latter is currently used for the transport of regional cargo, mainly minerals from Congo, the Southern Corridor is more geared towards the movement of cargo resulting from national production, particularly large-scale mining activity. "We are requalifying and expanding the port of Namibe to complement the two infrastructures and then have what we want, which is efficient performance of the corridor itself and start taking steps towards interconnection with Namibia", he explained.
