Severe Floods in Angola Suspend Lobito Corridor Rail Operations, Threatening Copper and Cobalt Exports from Central Africa
Severe flooding in western Angola has forced the suspension of rail traffic along the Lobito Corridor, disrupting a critical export route for minerals from the region’s mining sector.
The line operator, Lobito Atlantic Railway, reported that “significant damage” was sustained to railway infrastructure near the Halo River between Cubal and Caimbambo, approximately 140 kilometres southeast of the coastal city of Benguela.
Flooding also damaged infrastructure near the Cavaco River following heavy rainfall on Sunday, the company said in a statement released on Monday.
Rail operations along the affected sections have been suspended indefinitely while repairs and safety assessments are carried out.
The Lobito Corridor supported by investment from the United States and European partners connects major mining regions in the Democratic Republic of Congo to the Atlantic Ocean port of Port of Lobito.
The route transports copper and cobalt exports, as well as critical inputs used in mining operations, making it a strategic supply chain artery for global metals markets.
Meanwhile, the state broadcaster Televisão Pública de Angola aired footage showing residents stranded on rooftops as floodwaters inundated homes and streets in Benguela, located about 500 kilometres south of Luanda.
The region has experienced repeated flooding in recent weeks. In early April, heavy rains destroyed approximately 200 homes and resulted in at least 23 fatalities, bringing the nationwide death toll to 39, according to Angola’s emergency services.
