Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) activated a multimodal contingency operation at the Dango Multimodal Platform (PMD), ensuring the continuity of cargo flows along the railway following the severe flooding that affected the province of Benguela.
The severe flooding caused significant damage to several sections of the railway in Angola, forcing the temporary suspension of rail traffic between Negrão and Cubal. No injuries were recorded among LAR workers or subcontractors.
In addition to the operational response, LAR has been working in close coordination with the relevant authorities, raising awareness among communities along the line regarding the new road safety conditions resulting from increased truck traffic, and providing essential support to families displaced by the floods.
Within seven days, LAR implemented, in coordination with partners and authorities, an integrated road-rail solution linking the Port of Lobito to Dango — the last operational station before Huambo — and from this point by rail to Luau and Kolwezi, restoring operations in record time.
In less than two weeks, normal service conditions were restored, including logistics cycles and service levels comparable to those prior to the disruption, reinforcing the reliability and competitiveness of the railway under extreme conditions.
“What was achieved in recent days reflects an exceptional level of resilience and execution. In less than two weeks, we restored operations and reinstated normal service conditions, a response that distinguishes this corridor,” said Nicholas Fournier, CEO of Lobito Atlantic Railway.
The first railway operation at Dango (SONAGÁS train) took place on 20 April, followed on 24 April by the dispatch of the first shipment of copper and sulphur from Lobito.
The Dango Multimodal Platform operates in compliance with LAR’s health, safety, environmental, and social responsibility standards, with controlled road traffic during daytime hours, continuous monitoring, and dedicated operational supervision.
Rehabilitation works on the affected sections are ongoing, with a defined plan for the full recovery of the infrastructure. International traffic beyond Huambo remains uninterrupted.
