Luanda — The public transport fleet will be reinforced with more than 600 Volvo buses, with a view to improving urban mobility in Angola, in an investment of 323 million and 500 thousand euros.
According to a clarification note from the Ministry of Transport, to which ANGOP had access on Tuesday, this initiative is part of the National Urban Mobility Program, underway since 2019, aimed at strengthening the public transport fleet.
The document clarifies that the fleet to be acquired includes articulated buses and 4x4 buses for the eastern and southern provinces of the country, including transport insurance and the supply of equipment for preventive maintenance and technical assistance to vehicles.
In addition to the acquisition of these vehicles, the programme also includes the construction of the first bus assembly plant in the Barra do Dande Free Trade Zone, Bengo province, with an estimated investment of 90 million euros, with the aim of reducing dependence on imports and promoting industrial autonomy in the country.
This investment, the statement said, will create more than 2,000 direct jobs, stimulate entrepreneurship and promote professional development opportunities through the transfer of technology and knowledge to Angola.
As a result, national citizens will benefit from advanced technical training in the field of automotive engineering, manufacturing, quality management and artificial intelligence.
According to the note, the plant is also expected to export vehicles to neighbouring countries, contributing markedly to Angola's foreign exchange revenue and economic diversification.
Existing fleet
The national public transport fleet has been reinforced, from 2019 to date, with one thousand and 907 buses, with a maximum capacity to transport 40 million passengers/month.
Despite this, the current fleet needs to be reinforced with a minimum number of 1,500 buses, in addition to the introduction of other transport systems, such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Light Rail and the efficient functioning of urban and interurban rail systems.
This reinforcement can increase up to two thousand and 700 buses, so that public transport can respond to the increased needs of the Angolan population.
