A railway line running through the Lobito Corridor in Angola—a vital source of critical minerals such as copper and cobalt—was forced to suspend operations on Sunday, April 12, after nearby rivers overflowed, causing flooding.
According to a Reuters report, Lobito Atlantic Railway stated that heavy rains flooded bridges over the Halo River between the Cubal and Caimbambo stations, as well as a bridge over the Cavaco River near Benguela.
“As a result, rail traffic on the affected sections is suspended indefinitely,” Lobito Atlantic Railway said in a statement.
In 2022, Angola granted Lobito Atlantic Railway—a consortium comprising Trafigura, Mota-Engil, and Vecturis SA—a 30-year concession to operate the rail link and ensure a fast route for the export of copper and cobalt from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the Port of Lobito on the Atlantic coast.
The trains also transport sulfur in the opposite direction to mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as agricultural and industrial products from the port.
Climate change is exacerbating flooding throughout Southern Africa, often disrupting transportation.
