VZCZCXRO7200
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLU #1069 2961613
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 231613Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4380
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0105
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0008

UNCLAS LUANDA 001069 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR AF/S 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELTN ECON EFIN AO CH
SUBJECT: THE ROAD TO BENGUELA 
 
REF: LUANDA 1015 
 
¶1.  (U)  Summary.  The road connecting Luanda with 
Benguela-Lobito, a priority infrastructure project for the 
GRA, appears near completion, but the road has not been 
rebuilt, only resurfaced.  End Summary. 
 
New-Old Road 
------------ 
 
¶2.  (U)  Most of the two-lane coastal highway from Luanda to 
Benguela has been resurfaced, Econoff observed on late 
September road trips between Luanda and Benguela.  However, 
the work appears limited to resurfacing the existing road and 
leaving the road bed as 30 years of neglect have left it. 
Work has proceeded in sections, so the road repeatedly 
changed back and forth from new to old pavement.  Econoff and 
visiting analysts observed work in progress on Sunday, 
September 23 along three sections of road.  The road crews 
had neither graders to prepare the road bed nor rollers to 
smooth the final surface:  this appeared to be only 
resurfacing work. 
 
¶3.  (U)  New bridges under construction were a welcome 
exception to the usual standard for construction along this 
highway.  Several war-shattered spans lay in their stream 
beds, and had been replaced years ago by narrow steel spans. 
Completely new roadbeds straightening out the existing sharp 
curves distinguish these wide new concrete bridges.  (Note: 
Along the main road, a smooth surface over uneven pavement 
plus sharp curves made the ride more exciting than 
comfortable.  End note.) 
 
Hope for Durability 
------------------- 
 
¶4.  (U)  An Embassy maintenance supervisor with African 
road-building experience said that the African standard calls 
for a 20-centimeter final layer of asphalt, but the Angolan 
resurfacing work he has observed is closer to 8 cm. thick. 
In hot weather, traffic will further thin the asphalt.  The 
director of operations for the 20th Railway Brigade also 
critizized the quality of the road work, volunteered to 
Econoff that the quality is far below Chinese standards. 
 
Buy American 
------------ 
 
¶5.  (U)  Road building equipment bore the logo of the China 
International Foundation (CIF), the prime contractor with the 
National Reconstruction Office (GRN) for infrastructure 
projects financed through the lines of credit.  Some also 
bore the Caterpillar brand.  The local Caterpillar dealer 
explained that the company building the Benguela road brought 
its Caterpillar equipment with it from China, but he has sold 
new earth moving equipment to other Chinese companies in 
Angola.  In addition, he said that most of the Chinese 
construction companies here buy their electrical generators 
from Caterpillar in Angola. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶6.  (U)  The viability of the port of Lobito as an 
alternative to the over crowded Port of Luanda depends, to a 
great extent, on the quality of the road linkage between 
Lobito and Angola's capital city.  The older roads will 
eventually have to be replaced by a more modern highway that 
can more effectively handle heavy cargo and increase traffic 
flows before the Lobito Port can realize its full potential. 
FERNANDEZ