Floods disrupt Angola's mineral lifeline: the vital Lobito pipeline for transporting copper and cobalt is suspended.

Train traffic was forced to Stop On the railway line passing through the Lobito Pass inside Angola, flash floods caused by heavy rains disrupted one of the most important mineral transport routes in the region.

Lobito Atlantic Railway announced that rising water levels had flooded several major bridges, most notably the bridges over the Halo River between the Cobal and Caimbamo stations, as well as the Cavaco River bridge near the Benguela area, causing a complete halt to operations on the affected sections.

Train services suspended indefinitely 

The company confirmed in a statement that train traffic has been suspended indefinitely, pending an assessment of the damage and the necessary repairs to ensure safe operation.

The Lobito corridor is one of the most important transport arteries in the African continent, as it represents a vital route for exporting copper and cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo to the port of Lobito on the Atlantic coast. It is also used to transport sulfur to mines, along with agricultural goods and industrial products.

In 2022, the Angolan government granted a 30-year operating concession for this line to a consortium of international companies, including Trafgura, Mota Angel and Victoris SA, with the aim of developing infrastructure and boosting mineral exports.

This crisis highlights the growing impacts of climate change in South Africa, where frequent flooding is disrupting vital transport networks, threatening global supply chains for strategic minerals.