The Lobito rail project is set to be advance. The move follows a concession agreements sealed between Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) agreements with
The Lobito rail project is set to be advance. The move follows a concession agreements sealed between Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) agreements with the governments of Angola and Zambia.
The agreements were signed during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79) in a ceremony hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The rail project, backed by the G-7’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI), will receive collaborative support from the United States Government, the European Union, the African Development Bank, and the governments of Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Lobito project
In addition to these concession agreements, AFC secured a $2 million grant from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to conduct Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), ensuring the project meets international environmental standards.
This major infrastructure project will involve the construction of an approximately 800 km greenfield rail line, connecting Angola’s Benguela rail line in Luacano to Zambia Railways in Chingola. The project, which is part of a broader trade corridor linking the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, aims to facilitate the efficient movement of goods, especially minerals, between the two nations and boost intra-African and global trade.
The Lobito Rail Project is expected to generate approximately $3 billion in economic benefits, reduce emissions by 300,000 tons annually, and create over 1,250 jobs during construction and operations. Once completed, the corridor will serve as a critical trade route, providing Zambia and the DRC with a direct, strategic link to international markets via the Port of Lobito, significantly benefiting sectors like mining, agriculture, and energy access. The project is hailed as transformative, enhancing regional trade, industrialization, and socio-economic growth across Southern Africa.