A train operated by the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR), a US/EU-supported firm, has derailed in Angola, disrupting a crucial transportation route for copper mining operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bloomberg reports.
The accident occurred on Thursday morning near the stations of Cavimbe and Cangumbe in Angola’s Moxico province. The train, carrying sulfur for mining operations in Katanga, DRC, experienced a minor derailment involving a single axle on one of the wagons, according to the report.
The derailment was relatively minor and that the 400 meters of damaged track would be repaired within four days, LAR said. Last month, the company received 40,500 tonnes of sulfur by sea as it began port operations for the Lobito Corridor.
The incident is the latest in a series of derailments that are common along the Caminho de Ferro de Benguela track, with the last incident reported in January 2023. The poor condition of the track forces trains to reduce cargo loads and travel at slower speeds.
The Lobito Corridor, which includes the railway, is a vital transportation route connecting the DRC’s copper mines to the Angolan port of Lobito, providing a crucial link for exports.
