13 years of focus on the development of northern Mozambique – CDN

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13 years of focus on the development of northern Mozambique – CDN

1:30 CAT | 05 Feb 2018

Berth of Nacala Port. Photo: Mitsui

January 10 marked the 13th anniversary the North Development Corridor (CDN) investment in the socio-economic development of the northern region of Mozambique, and its quest for integrated iron and port infrastructures in the area.

“We are pleased that over the course of the 13 years we have contributed a lot to the improvement of the lives of the population in the northern region, and it is evident the development that our services bring to the provinces of Nampula and Niassa, where we largely operate,” CDN spokesman Sergio Paúnde said.

Among the landmarks in the CDN’s history are the railway link between the cities of Cuamba-Lichinga, Cuamba-Entre Lagos and the introduction of a goods train service between the port city of Nacala and the municipality of Lichinga, all actions that are contributing to a meaningful improvement in socio-economic conditions for the population in the region, a press release from the company reads.

The rail connection between Cuamba-Lichinga was completed in 2016 with the rehabilitation of the 262-kilometre section at a cost estimated at US$100 million.

The line was inaugurated on November 3 2016 by President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi and started passenger services on November 5. Freight services resumed on June 16, 2017, after a hiatus of more than 10 years.

After rehabilitation, the Cuamba-Entre Lagos connection was opened on February 2, 2017.

At present, the Cuamba-Lichinga section transports most people and goods, to the detriment of the other two sections that CDN operates, forcing the company to introduce passenger trains daily since the second half of last year.

Last year, CDN, the concessionaire also responsible for the operation of the port infrastructure in the north of Mozambique, carried about 50,000 passengers on 627 trains on the Nampula-Cuamba, Cuamba-Entre Lagos and Cuamba-Lichinga routes.

Currently, the CDN rolling stock serving the corridor consists of 732 wagons, of which 277 transport containers, 160 grain, 237 bulk cargo and 58 are tankers allocated to freight service.

The concession agreements of the Nacala port and the Northern Railway line were concluded on 29 September 2000 between the Government of the Republic of Mozambique as the Concession Authority, CDN as the Concessionaire and Mozambican Ports and Railways (CFM) in its capacity of public company that manages port goods and services in the country.

But it was only on January 10, 2005 that the CDN took over the management and operation of Nacala Port and the Northern Rail Line, which includes the Nacala-Porto-Nampula section, the Nampula-Cuamba section, the Cuamba Lichinga section and the branch line connecting Cuamba and the border district of Entre-Lagos.

About the North Corridor Development Company (CDN)

The Northern Development Corridor is a corporation created and registered in Mozambique whose objective is the integrated management, rehabilitation and commercial exploitation of the infrastructure of the Port of Nacala and of the railway network of the north of Mozambique. It is part of the Nacala Corridor Project, which covers the northern region of Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia.

The main objective of the CDN is to provide high-quality rail and port services, efficiency and safety in the infrastructures and concessions granted to the company, effectively serving the national and regional markets. In addition, the company seeks to modernise its infrastructure and management model in order to ensure service improvement and to become a competitive and sustainable company. The ultimate goal is to improve rail and port traffic by expanding and modernising the existing fleet, with particular attention to safety issues, ensuring the safety of its employees, passengers and equipment.

Source: CND Press Release