The state-owned company Ports and Railways of Mozambique (CFM) recorded losses estimated at $12 million following the interruption of train operations on the Limpopo Line, affected by floods in the south of the country. The resumption of operations is scheduled for May 1, according to Lusa.
According to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of CFM, Agostinho Langa, the disruption lasted for around three months, during which more than one hundred trains did not operate. The financial impact is mainly due to the drop in freight transport.
“Our initial plan was to reopen the line in mid-March, but the infrastructure has been closed for about three months. In total, around 130 trains did not run, which already represents losses of about $12 million, resulting from traffic that did not take place on the link between Zimbabwe and Maputo,” explained Agostinho Langa.
The Limpopo Line, located in southern Mozambique, plays a strategic role in connecting the Port of Maputo with landlocked countries. The infrastructure supports both passenger transport and the movement of various goods, including fuel, cereals, and containerized cargo.
Floods and heavy rains that hit the region in January caused significant damage to the railway line, forcing the suspension of operations. CFM is currently carrying out rehabilitation works to restore normal operations. For the recovery of the infrastructure, the company expects to invest between $20 million and $25 million in this initial phase, a figure lower than the original estimate, allowing for considerable savings.
“During the execution of the works, we concluded that some interventions, such as certain hydraulic crossings, can be postponed to a second phase. Thus, we estimate investing between $20 million and $25 million in this preliminary stage, which represents a reduction of around $15 million compared to the initial assessment,” clarified Agostinho Langa.
The rains also temporarily halted operations on the Ressano Garcia and Goba lines, which connect Maputo to South Africa and Eswatini, respectively, further worsening constraints in the national railway sector.
Source: Diário Económico
