| The latest quarter saw activity in Angola's | | | | the 2010 games, from which impetus for overall |
| construction sector reach its peak on the back of | | | | infrastructure development is spilling over into |
| the Africa Cup of Nations 2010 games. Although, | | | | subsequent years. Outside the hydrocarbon |
| held in January, the games are still providing a | | | | markets, Angola's push to modernise its airports |
| momentum for infrastructure projects and will | | | | continues to drive its construction sector. A series |
| push growth in the sector to 22.71% in 2010. | | | | of airports across the country saw progress in |
| Angola attracted international attention this | | | | development in the latest quarter, while little or no |
| quarter, as it hosted the 2010 games as well as | | | | activity was seen in the road, rail and port |
| the latest OPEC meeting, and both exemplified | | | | sub-sectors. As this spill-over subsides beyond |
| contradictions in a country that has become one | | | | 2010, growth in Angola's construction sector will |
| of Africa's leading oil exporters. The games helped | | | | drop in 2011 and ease y-o-y thereafter. BMI |
| boost construction and tourism in Angola, while | | | | expects growth to decelerate sharply to 13.55% |
| the fatal attack on the Togolese team in Cabinda | | | | in 2011, from 22.71% in 2010. |
| demonstrated the continuing security risk in the | | | | The growth of the country's construction industry |
| country and marred its business environment. | | | | and wider infrastructure sector has been partly |
| Meanwhile, Angola's first-time hosting of the OPEC | | | | hinging on negotiations with the IMF, which has |
| meeting illustrated the country's increasing | | | | allowed consideration of infrastructure spending as |
| importance as an oil producer but also highlighted | | | | it approved a US$1.4bn loan in November 2009. |
| its lack of compliance with calledfor production | | | | News of the loan came shortly before the |
| cuts, partly as a result of its dependence on oil | | | | government announced its aim to pay debt owed |
| revenue for infrastructure development. In any | | | | to construction firms beginning in 2010 after at |
| case, Angola is set to continue as one of | | | | least a year of deferred payments. While oil |
| Sub-Saharan Africa's growth areas. Building | | | | output is set to rise in the next several years, the |
| materials company Pretoria Portland Cement | | | | country moves sluggishly towards becoming an |
| (PPC), the continent's largest cement producer, | | | | electricity exporter and, although hydropower |
| saw increased demand from Angola between | | | | provides around 70% of the country's total |
| October and December 2009, compared with the | | | | electricity supply, this source is still |
| same period in the previous year. WhiPC expects | | | | underdeveloped. After expansion in Angola's |
| regional demand to drop in 2010, with | | | | construction industry drops sharply in 2011 |
| improvement expected in the following year, BMI | | | | compared to 2010, BMI expects the rate of |
| sees Angola's construction sector growing to | | | | growth to hover just above the 11% mark in |
| US$4.03bn in 2010. | | | | 2012 and 2013, before easing again to 10.89% in |
| Much of this growth is a result of preparation for | | | | 2014 when the sector will be worth US$9.86bn. |