The Lobito Corridor Project

The Lobito Corridor railway project is a transformative, US- and EU-backed infrastructure initiative developing a ~1,300 km, open-access, transcontinental rail line from Angola’s Port of Lobito to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia. Aimed at boosting critical mineral exports (copper/cobalt), it will drastically reduce transit times to under a week, transforming logistics for central Africa. Connecting Zambia's copper belt to Angola's Atlantic coast, it is scheduled to begin construction in the third or fourth quarter of 2026 

Key Aspects of the Project:

• Infrastructure Scope: Rehabilitating the existing Benguela railway in Angola and constructing new, greenfield lines extending into Zambia and the DRC's mining heartland.
• Partnerships & Funding: Supported by the US PGI and EU Global Gateway, with over $750 million in loans secured, including funding from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.
• Economic Impact: Aims to export up to 1 million tonnes of material annually by 2030, bypassing congested eastern ports, and creating jobs in logistics and agriculture.
• Strategic Goal: The corridor is designed to provide a faster, Western-backed alternative for transporting critical minerals for the global green energy transition, competing with existing Chinese-influenced routes. 

The project, which includes the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) consortium, is essential for diversifying supply chains for critical raw materials (CRMs)

The Lobito Corridor will provide a major transcontinental trade route linking Angola’s Atlantic coast to the DRC and Zambia, with over 1,300 km of railway rehabilitation underway, backed by a $753 million financing package secured in early 2026. Key progress includes the Lobito Atlantic Railway taking over operations, expected to reduce transit times from weeks to just one week. 

Key Progress and Developments (as of early 2026):

• Infrastructure & Rail: The Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) consortium is rehabilitating the Benguela railway, with 1,300 km of track connecting the Port of Lobito to Luau (Angola/DRC border).
• Financing: A $753 million financing package was finalized in early 2026, featuring $553 million from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and $200 million from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).
• Expansion & Logistics: A new Greenfield Rail Line Feasibility Study is exploring extending the line through Zambia. The project aims to reduce freight transit times from over a month to one week.
• Economic Impact: The initiative is designed to facilitate the export of critical raw materials (copper, cobalt) from the DRC and Zambia to global markets.
• Challenges: The project faces significant local concerns regarding land rights, with thousands in the DRC potentially facing eviction. 

https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/global-gateway/connecting-democratic-republic-congo-zambia-and-angola-global-markets-through-lobito-corridor_en

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobito_Corridor

https://www.lobitocorridorzambia.com/

https://dai-global-developments.com/articles/in-zambia-reducing-land-tenure-risks-for-the-lobito-corridor/?utm_source=daidotcom

https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/transition-minerals/thousands-in-drc-could-face-eviction-from-lobito-corridor-railway/

https://afripoli.org/a-game-changer-in-flux-recent-developments-and-risks-in-the-lobito-corridor