Support is growing for the proposed second phase of the Northwest Rail project linking Zambia directly with Angola. The current project for the first phase of NWR comprises a new 290 kilometre railway from Chingola in the old Copperbelt, running through to First Quantum Minerals new Sentinel mine at Kalumbila. This project is currently at the end of its pre-feasibility stage and is about to start on a full bankability study which is expected to complete before the end of 2014, and allow construction to commence in early 2015.

Following a high level conference in Luanda during May organised by ANIP (Angola National Private Investment Agency) there was common agreement between the Angolan and Zambian governments that a direct rail link between the two countries is required. Specifically it was confirmed that the current Angolan fiscal budget includes an allocation for the cost of building a 395km rail link from Luacano on the Benguela Railway to link with the Northwest Railway on the Zambian border.

Enoch Kavindele, Chairman of Northwest Rail, says “The momentum is on in Angola to connect  to Zambia. During my recent visit to Luanda, the Angolan government confirmed that they have a budget line item for the rail link from the Benguela Line to Zambia via Jimbe. This will spur the development of the nationally important Lobito Development Corridor.”

“Furthermore, connecting Zambia and Angola on this route opens up a pragmatic solution to the 427km “missing link” in the DRC of the Dilolo-Kolwezi railway, and subsequent transport challenges, if we add a spur from NWR northwards to Kolwezi, a distance of only around 100kms.”

This rail link from Zambia to Angola was also the subject of discussion at a recent mission to Lusaka by representatives from SADC and the Africa Development Bank in June. Following this meeting, SADC have issued an Aide Memoire document which supports the concept of a direct Angola-Zambia rail link.