By Riches Soberekon
Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have announced a joint project to rehabilitate the 1,700 km railway line linking the DRC’s mineral-producing region to the Atlantic Ocean.
The project, which is partly financed by the United States, is expected to develop exports of copper ore and other products, boost regional trade, and strengthen Angola’s ties with Western countries.
The railway line was built 100 years ago by British investors and has been in a state of disrepair for many years.
The rehabilitation project will involve upgrading the track, replacing the rolling stock, and improving the signaling system.
The consortium that will carry out the project is led by the Angolan company Vecturis and includes the commodities trader Trafigura and the Portuguese construction company Mota-Engil.
The project is expected to take three years to complete and will cost an estimated $555 million. The US government is providing $100 million in financing for the project, and the remaining funds will be raised from private investors.
The rehabilitation of the railway line is expected to have a number of benefits. It will reduce the cost of transporting goods between the DRC and the Atlantic Ocean, which will make it more profitable to export DRC minerals. The project will also create jobs and boost economic growth in both countries.
The rehabilitation of the railway line is a significant development for the DRC and Angola. It will help to unlock the potential of the DRC’s mineral resources and boost regional trade. The project is also a sign of the growing cooperation between Angola and the United States.
