Angola opens bidding for a long-term concession to operate Namibe rail and port corridor

Angola Benguela railway cargo train near Lobito April 2021 (Photo: International Railway Journal)

The Angolan government has launched an international public tender for the concession to operate, manage, and maintain the Namibe Corridor, a key transport route linking southern Angola to regional markets.

The Ministry of Transport said bids for the concession, which runs for an initial 30 years and can be extended to 50, will close on 4 May 2026. The tender covers the Moçâmedes–Menongue railway line, rolling stock, workshops, training facilities, and associated infrastructure, as well as potential future extensions connecting to Namibia and later Zambia.

Namibe Corridor (Photo: Ministry of Transport, Angola)

Speaking at the launch, Secretary of State for Land Transport Jorge Bengue said the project presents an opportunity for experienced international railway operators and builds on Angola’s recent transport sector reforms. He cited the Lobito Corridor concession as evidence of the country’s ability to attract private investment through public-private partnerships.

The Namibe Corridor includes 855 kilometres of rail and the Port of Namibe, with a theoretical capacity of up to five million tonnes per year. The route is intended to support exports of minerals, agricultural products, and other goods, while strengthening Angola’s role as a regional logistics hub.