DRC Advances Plans to Rehabilitate Lobito Corridor Railway
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is advancing plans to rehabilitate its section of the Lobito Corridor, a major railway route expected to improve access to international markets for Congolese minerals.
The proposed project covers the Dilolo-Sakania railway line and would connect the DRC’s mining regions to Angola’s Atlantic port of Lobito. Portuguese construction company Mota-Engil is being considered for the project, with financial support expected from the United States.
In December 2025, the US International Development Finance Corporation issued a letter of interest supporting Mota-Engil’s proposed rehabilitation, operation and eventual transfer of the railway. The project could receive up to $1 billion in DFC financing, although any funding remains subject to a full review. DFC
What is the Lobito Corridor?
The Lobito Corridor is a railway and logistics network linking the mineral-rich regions of southern DRC to the port of Lobito on Angola’s Atlantic coast.
The Angolan section stretches approximately 1,300 kilometres from Lobito to the DRC border. It is operated by the Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium, which includes Mota-Engil, Trafigura and Vecturis.
The route provides an alternative to ports such as Durban, Dar es Salaam, Beira and Walvis Bay. It is particularly important for transporting copper, cobalt, zinc and other minerals used in renewable energy systems, electric vehicles and modern technologies.
For mining centres such as Kolwezi and Tenke, officials estimate that freight could reach Lobito within five to eight days. The journey to Durban can take about 25 days.
According to Congolese projections, using the corridor could reduce logistics costs by as much as 30 percent. Bankable
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DRC Advances Plans to Rehabilitate Lobito Corridor Railway
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is advancing plans to rehabilitate its section of the Lobito Corridor, a major railway route expected to improve access to international markets for Congolese minerals.
The proposed project covers the Dilolo-Sakania railway line and would connect the DRC’s mining regions to Angola’s Atlantic port of Lobito. Portuguese construction company Mota-Engil is being considered for the project, with financial support expected from the United States.
In December 2025, the US International Development Finance Corporation issued a letter of interest supporting Mota-Engil’s proposed rehabilitation, operation and eventual transfer of the railway. The project could receive up to $1 billion in DFC financing, although any funding remains subject to a full review. DFC
What is the Lobito Corridor?
The Lobito Corridor is a railway and logistics network linking the mineral-rich regions of southern DRC to the port of Lobito on Angola’s Atlantic coast.
The Angolan section stretches approximately 1,300 kilometres from Lobito to the DRC border. It is operated by the Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium, which includes Mota-Engil, Trafigura and Vecturis.
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The route provides an alternative to ports such as Durban, Dar es Salaam, Beira and Walvis Bay. It is particularly important for transporting copper, cobalt, zinc and other minerals used in renewable energy systems, electric vehicles and modern technologies.
For mining centres such as Kolwezi and Tenke, officials estimate that freight could reach Lobito within five to eight days. The journey to Durban can take about 25 days.
According to Congolese projections, using the corridor could reduce logistics costs by as much as 30 percent. Bankable
Rehabilitation planned for the Congolese section
The DRC is preparing an international tender for the rehabilitation of the Tenke-Kolwezi-Dilolo section. A public-private partnership is being considered, with major construction work expected to begin in the final quarter of 2026.
Feasibility studies estimate that rehabilitating the Dilolo-Kolwezi-Tenke section will require between $400 million and $410 million. Maintenance costs could reach an additional $180 million over ten years.
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The World Bank has been appointed to coordinate the project’s financial and technical structure and has committed $500 million. Studies are also continuing on the Tenke-Lubumbashi-Sakania section, which could require at least $690 million.
While the wider project is being prepared, state railway company SNCC is carrying out emergency repairs on nearly 80 kilometres of critical track to keep trains operating. Bankable
Major financing secured for the Angolan railway
Momentum behind the wider corridor increased in July 2026 when the Africa Finance Corporation announced the financial close of a $753 million package for the Angolan section.
The package includes $553 million from the US International Development Finance Corporation and $200 million from the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
The funding will support the rehabilitation, modernization and long-term operation of the railway connecting Lobito to the Congolese border. Africa Finance Corporation
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Economic opportunities for the DRC
A modern railway could lower transportation costs, shorten delivery times and make Congolese exports more competitive. It could also create employment in construction, railway maintenance, logistics and related services.
The DRC-US strategic partnership sets ambitious targets for state-linked mineral exports. Over the next five years, the plan calls for 50 percent of copper, 30 percent of cobalt and 90 percent of zinc produced or exported by state-owned companies to pass through the corridor.
The railway could also support passenger travel and make it cheaper to import machinery, agricultural products and other essential goods.
By strengthening connections with Angola and Zambia, the DRC would reduce its dependence on longer southern and eastern trade routes. However, the wider benefits will depend on transparent contracts, local employment, reliable operations and stronger domestic mineral processing.
The Lobito Corridor represents an important opportunity for the DRC to convert its mineral wealth into infrastructure, employment and regional trade. Its success will ultimately be measured by how much value remains inside the country and how directly the project improves the lives of Congolese communities.
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