The minister of Public Works and Housing, Carlos Santos, last week said the construction of a road link with Zambia via the Lobito corridor, Angola’s centre-western Benguela Province, depends on final approval of the State Budget (OGE).
Speaking to the press, on the sidelines of a field visit to ravine-hit areas and the planned works for stabilization and containment of three main ravines in the north-eastern Lunda Norte Province, the minister said that two companies have already been contracted, adding that as soon as the first payments are made, works will begin.
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The minister, who was coy on the amount of the contract, said the Angolan government is expected to build 800 of the 1,300 kilometres that separate the two countries.
Of the 800 km on the Angolan side, contracts have already been signed for 600, with 200 km still to go, underlining that the contract is expected to take three years to be executed.
The project is part of the strengthening of bilateral cooperation between Angola and Zambia, which, on the sidelines of the working visit of the Zambian President to Angola, recently enabled the signing of six legal instruments.
Road Maintenance and Conservation
The minister revealed that a programme for road maintenance and conservation is underway to ensure the durability of roads in the country.
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The programme, the minister said, aims to prevent works executed by the State from degrading in a short time due to lack of maintenance and conservation.
