Angola held its First Railway Technical Conference in Luanda on 25 October 2022, organised by ATECFA (Associacao dos Tecnicos Ferroviarios de Angola – Angolan Railway Technicians Association) in close partnership with CFL (Caminho de Ferro de Luanda – Luanda Railway Company) and supported by CFB (Chemin de fer de Benguela) and CFM (Caminho de Ferro de Mocamedes).
Dr Jorge Bengue Calumbo, Deputy Minister of Transport, representing Dr Ricardo D’Abreu, Minister of Transport, said in his opening statement that in coming together the conference participants aimed to help promote technical public discussion on nationally relevant railway issues, strategies and priority projects, such as the Corredor do Lobito Concession (Lobito Corridor Railway Service) and the Zenza-Cacuso Corridor project.
In his recorded keynote opening address, François Davenne underlined the importance of the close collaboration of Angolan railway companies within UIC and their involvement in regional activities regarding rolling stock maintenance, safety, resilient infrastructure, climate conditions and UIC partnership with UNFCCC, focusing on African Climate weeks and with a particular emphasis on UIC participation at COP27, to be held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, in November 2022.
The message of François Davenne was supported by Angolan Government high officials and all conference participants.
Further statements included a message from Pedro Nuno Santos, Portuguese Minister of Infrastructure and Housing. The presentations and following debates focused on: infrastructure maintenance; signalling and communication; the Lobito Corridor Concession; the Zenza-Cacuso CFL project challenges and opportunities; general operational safety; the organisation of rolling stock maintenance; the Angolan railway network system and its contribution to sustainable and inclusive development; and other related issues.
The speakers and participants included Angolan railway high authorities, Angolan public railway companies, high officials, local academics, international experts from the railway industry, private companies headquartered in Angola, and railway-related associations: ADFERSIT from Portugal and ANEFER and AFPF from Brazil.
In his concluding remarks, Dr Enio Costa, ANTT Chairman (Agencia Nacional dos Transportes Terrestres – Angolan Railway High Authority), warmly thanked the conference organisers and all participants and encouraged them to actively participate in the new and challenging Angolan railway era.
Mario Cuambua, ATECFA President, highlighted the significance of this very first gathering of Angolan railways experts.
In October 2022 Angola is celebrating 134 of railway exploration.
