The Lobito Corridor Railway Project is a cross-border rail infrastructure development planned to link Central Africa’s copper belt to Angola’s Atlantic coast. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is in the process of arranging approximately $500 million in financing to support the project, with discussions ongoing between the agency and relevant stakeholders.

The railway is intended to facilitate the transport of mineral resources across the region and improve logistics connectivity between inland production areas and export terminals. Project development involves coordination with the Government of Angola and private-sector participants, including Trafigura, as negotiations continue toward finalising financing and implementation arrangements.

As of March 2026, the Lobito Corridor railway project is accelerating, with over $753 million secured for upgrading the 1,300 km Lobito Atlantic Railway Angola’s coast to the DRC mining region. Supported by the U.S. and EU, this initiative aims to slash transport times from 35 days to one week. Furthermore, it will improve mineral exports and regional connectivity.

Other Projects

Other than U.S. financing the Lobito Corridor Railway project for critical minerals, it also making strides at home with the Korea Zinc critical minerals plant in Tennessee. Korea Zinc is seeking a $2.35 billion loan to fund the construction of the plant. The US smelter plant is part of its efforts to help Washington boost its domestic manufacturing and metal-processing capacity. JPMorgan Chase & Co. is the sole mandated lead arranger and underwriter of the five-year loan. Nonetheless, talks with banks are ongoing and terms could still change, those familiar with the matter noted.

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Italy Commits $270 Million for Lobito Corridor

The Significance of the Lobito Corridor Railway Project

Africa’s Lobito Corridor Railway project is a major transnational infrastructure and investment initiative to leverage the continent’s resources. The railway line will connect the Atlantic port of Lobito in Angola to the mineral-rich regions of the DRC and Zambia. Through this, it will facilitate for ease of transportation as well as ensure accessibility. The DFC announced earlier in 2023 that it was reviewing financing for the project. However, Coleman declined to elaborate on the cause of delays but noted it was not tied to any administrative changes. He noted that the delays are not influenced by any upcoming policy changes under the Trump administration.

There’s business as usual at the DFC,” Coleman said. “You’ll see us playing a lot in critical minerals infrastructure, both digital and transportation, as well as energy, especially here on the African continent.” Congo’s government is already making plans to launch a tender in November to begin construction on its portion of the corridor. Many are hopeful that the railway will be operational within three years, according to Vice Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba. The nation is one of the mineral-rich countries in the world, especially in cobalt and copper. It also holds enormous lithium reserves, all of which will be transported along the corridor to global markets. The strategic location of the Lobito Corridor offers a direct and efficient export route for these resources. Furthermore, it directly links inland African mines to global markets.

Project Overview

• Project Type: Transnational railway corridor
• Total Length: ~1,300 km
• Objective: Link Central Africa’s copper belt to Atlantic export routes
• Key Function: Mineral transport and logistics connectivity

Key Stakeholders

• Financing Agency: U.S. International Development Finance Corporation
• Government Partner: Angola
• Private Sector monacilant: Trafigura
• Regional Partners: European Union

Financing

• DFC Financing (Planned): ~$500 million
• Secured Funding (Rail Upgrade): $753+ million
• Status: Financing discussions ongoing

Location & Route

Start Point: Lobito Port, Angola

Corridor Extends To:

• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Zambia

Project Scope

• Upgrade of Lobito Atlantic Railway
• Development of cross-border rail links
• Integration with mining regions in Central Africa

Performance Targets

Transport Time Reduction:

• From 35 days to 1 week

Project Status

• Stage: Financing and development
• DFC: Nearing financing completion
• DRC: Tender for national section expected

Resources Transported

• Copper
• Cobalt
• Lithium
• Other critical minerals

Strategic Significance

• Creates direct export route to global markets via Atlantic coast
• Strengthens critical minerals supply chains
• Enhances regional trade and infrastructure integration
• Supported by US and EU as part of strategic investment in Africa

Also read:

The Lobito Corridor Railway Expansion Project

US$1.3 Billion Lobito Corridor Development Deal Signed by Angola