Africa-Press – Angola. The Angolan Ministry of Transport launched in Moçamedes the Public Tender for the Granting of the right to explore, manage and maintain the Namibe Corridor, an infrastructure that connects the south coast to the interior of Angola.
At the ceremony, witnessed by businesspeople and the diplomatic corps accredited in Angola, the Secretary of State for Land Transport, Jorge Bengue, considered the Namibe Corridor as an important axis for the socioeconomic development of the South region, in particular, and the country, in general, noting that it has several transport and logistics infrastructures.
He explained that the corridor begins at the Moçâmedes Railway, 855 kilometers long, passing through the Port of Namibe, and connects the coast to the interior of the country, ending in the province of Cubango.
The government official described it as a strategic axis for the flow of ores, ornamental rocks, agricultural products, among other goods.
Jorge Bengue also highlighted that the corridor will connect the airports of Mucanca, in Lubango (Huíla), and Welwitschia Mirábilis, in Moçâmedes, which are being requalified to receive certification for international flights.
He also added that the corridor is the bridge between the coast and the interior, rich in mineral resources, some of which are already being explored, mainly iron and ornamental rocks; fertile soils with good levels of agricultural production and an agricultural and livestock sector, considering the potential as a platform capable of transforming the country’s economic fabric and promoting regional integration.
“This project will only be possible if we have railways with greater operational capacity to meet demand, as the Cuxi iron, the rocks of Huíla, the region’s agricultural products, fishing resources and other goods that will be exported via the Port of Namibe pass and will pass through here”, he stated.
He said that, in the first phase, the priority will be to connect with Namibia and then with the Republic of Zambia, stressing that the Namibe Corridor will be managed in a public-private partnership model.
On the occasion, Eugénio Fernandes, national director for the economy of concessions at the Ministry of Transport, said that, given the characteristics of the concession, competitors are required to have experience in the sector of activity in question and the financial capacity to carry out the concession’s activities.
Among the minimum eligibility criteria to participate in the public tender are requirements such as owning or having owned, in the last three years, a railway infrastructure management operation or railway cargo operation management.
“Competitors must have, directly or through subsidiaries, a stake of no less than 50% in at least one of the following operations: railway infrastructure management, railway freight operation, annual turnover of 50 million dollars (measured by the average of the last three years) and net equity greater than or equal to USD 12.5 million in the last fiscal year”, he pointed out.
He also informed that the tender has a concession period of 30 years, with the possibility of extension up to 50 years, if it includes railway branches connecting to Namibia and Zambia.
Eugénio Fernandes said that the assets allocated to the concession included railway infrastructure and rail transport equipment for cargo and goods.
According to the director, the concession remuneration requires a concession premium of no less than USD 35 million, fixed income of USD 1.22 million/year, variable income of 5% of revenues (first 5 years), 10% (years 5-10) and 15% from the 10th year onwards.
He said that the concessionaire will take on the integration of 600 CFM workers identified in the specifications.
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