Brief Introduction
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) advances the Lobito Corridor core railway.
It targets a new rail section in Zambia. The project secures around 1.3 billion US dollars in funding. AFC and AfDB each commit 500 million US dollars.
Italy offers about 320 million US dollars in support. Furthermore, AFC will launch debt and equity financi ng this Q3. It aims to close the full financing by Q4 2027.
he Zambia rail section is key to the Lobito Corridor.Moreover, it gains backing from the United States. It links Zambian copper to Angola’s Lobito Port. Also, it connects DRC cobalt to the same port. Thus, it opens a mineral route to the Atlantic. Upon completion, travel time will be greatly cut. It will drop from 16 days to merely 7 days. Besides, logistics costs will be effectively lowered. In turn, mining economic efficiency will improve.
Construction scale and implementation plan
The Lobito Corridor will build 830km new cross-border railway. Specifically, Zambia covers about 515 kilometers.In addition, DRC has around 315 kilometers of track. It will link Angola’s existing Benguela Railway.The existing line stretches 1,300 kilometers long.Eventually, a transatlantic transport network will take shape. According to AFC, construction starts once funds are secured.Besides, EPC tender selection ends in July-August 2026. Furthermore, works will begin late 2026 or early 2027.Lastly, the whole project is due for completion in 2030.
Project Progress
AFC says Zambia’s section finishes feasibility studies.It will take contractor bids by late May 2026.Nine global contractors made site visits in early April.They come from a wide range of countries.Thus, global players show keen interest in the project.AFC puts annual freight demand at 2.5–3 million tons.This volume keeps the railway financially sustainable.It secures 1 million tons of initial cargo for now.The volume equals half the minimum required demand.Hence, it needs more mining deals to bridge the gap.Many firms join or may join the project.Canada’s First Quantum Minerals is one key player.It operates two copper mines in northwest Zambia.US miner KoBold Metals also joins the lineup.It develops Zambia’s Mingomba copper mine project.
