Mozambique’s ports and railways operator CFM plans to invest $70 million — equivalent to approximately €60 million — in the acquisition of 10 locomotives and 420 wagons, as the state-owned company moves to expand national rail transport capacity.
According to information released by the company in connection with the approval of its 2025 accounts, the investment will be financed through loans already approved by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and South Africa’s Standard Bank.
Of the total amount, the AfDB has committed $40 million (approximately €34 million), while Standard Bank is providing the remaining $30 million, equivalent to around €26 million.
CFM is expected to make semi-annual repayments of approximately €3.3 million over an estimated repayment period of 18 years.
The acquisition of new rolling stock forms part of the company’s broader programme to modernise its rail and port infrastructure. In 2025, CFM’s executed capital investment reached 3.25 billion meticais — approximately €50.4 million — representing 58% of the approved budget.
Among the major projects currently under way are the duplication and modernisation of the Ressano Garcia line, rolling stock procurement, the deployment of railway telecommunications systems, the rehabilitation of port infrastructure, and the modernisation of facilities at Nacala and Beira.
At the close of 2025, ongoing investments stood at 6.47 billion meticais, equivalent to around €100.3 million. CFM is also pressing ahead with the rehabilitation of the Machipanda line, one of the country’s largest rail projects, valued at approximately €125 million and financed primarily by Standard Bank, BCI, and Absa.
In parallel, CFM is seeking to expand its presence in the oil and gas sector through CFM Logistics, a subsidiary established in 2023 to provide logistics services to major energy projects.
The company believes that developments in the Rovuma Basin could generate new opportunities across port infrastructure, maritime services, logistics, and transportation linked to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry. CFM expects these activities to contribute to revenue growth, job creation, and stronger participation by Mozambican companies in the sector’s value chain.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/01/negocios/empresas/cfm-investe-60-me-na-compra-de-locomotivas-e-vagoes/
