LUANDA, April 13 – Severe flooding in Angola has forced the suspension of rail operations along the Lobito Corridor, disrupting a vital exports route for critical minerals from the region.
Operator Lobito Atlantic Railway said heavy rains caused significant damage to railway infrastructure near the Halo River between Cubal and Caimbambo, southeast of Benguela. Flooding also impacted sections near the Cavaco River, prompting a halt in services on affected lines until further notice.
The corridor is a key logistics artery linking mining regions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the Atlantic port of Lobito. It is central to the export of copper and cobalt, as well as the movement of materials used in mining operations, making it a critical supply chain for global metals markets.
Backed by US and European partners, the Lobito Corridor has been positioned as a strategic alternative route for mineral exports, particularly as demand rises for resources tied to the global energy transition.
Flooding has also hit surrounding communities hard. State media footage showed residents stranded on rooftops as waters inundated homes and infrastructure in Benguela, located about 500 kilometers south of Luanda.
The region has faced weeks of heavy rainfall. Earlier this month, floods destroyed around 200 homes and resulted in at least 23 deaths, contributing to a nationwide toll of 39, according to emergency services.
The disruption underscores the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to climate-related shocks, with potential ripple effects on global supply chains and commodity flows
