The Lobito Corridor, a vital trade route in Africa, is set for a significant boost in freight capacity thanks to a new contract between the Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium and South Africa’s Galison Manufacturing. This agreement underlines the consortium’s commitment to its $455 million investment in Angola’s infrastructure.
As part of a larger procurement plan encompassing 35 locomotives and 1555 wagons, the Lobito Atlantic Railway has awarded a contract to Galison Manufacturing to supply 275 container wagons over a 30-month period. This signifies progress towards fulfilling the consortium’s investment pledges and attracting new users to the corridor.
The Lobito Atlantic Railway, a collaborative effort by Trafigura, Mota-Engil, and Vecturis, commenced operations in July 2023. The consortium manages a 1,744-kilometer railway line with a gauge of 1067 millimeters, stretching from the Angolan port city of Lobito to Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Their concession agreement for operating the railway spans 30 years, with the potential for a 20-year extension upon meeting specific investment benchmarks, which include the aforementioned $455 million.
The contract with Galison Manufacturing represents a crucial step in achieving these investment goals. While the exact value remains undisclosed, estimates suggest it falls within the $35-50 million range. These wagons will be manufactured using cutting-edge technology at Galison’s facility in Welkom, South Africa. The use of CNC drills, profiling machines, and advanced robotic welding ensures precision, efficiency, and consistent quality throughout the production process.
Furthermore, the wagons will be constructed from high-strength steel, bringing the empty weight down to 13.5 tonnes. This innovative design maximizes cargo-carrying capacity, allowing each wagon to transport more freight without compromising structural integrity or durability.
“Galison secured this contract through rigorous international competition,” said Andrew Thorburn, CEO of Galison. “Meeting stringent technical specifications and competitive pricing points were essential. This order ranks among the most significant in our company’s history. It reinforces our growing presence within the South African Development Community (SADC) as Galison-made wagons will soon be operational across most member states, including South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania, and the DRC.”
The procurement of these wagons is a encouraging development for the Lobito Corridor. It signifies the Lobito Atlantic Railway’s commitment to fulfilling its investment pledges and attracting new users to the vital trade route. This collaboration between the consortium and Galison Manufacturing paves the way for increased freight capacity and improved efficiency within the corridor, contributing to the economic growth of the region.
