The Africa Finance Corporation is targeting financial close by the end of 2027 for the Zambia–Lobito railway project, a key segment of the broader Lobito Corridor linking Central Africa’s copper belt to the Atlantic coast. The timeline reflects the complexity of structuring funding for what is expected to be a multi-billion-dollar cross-border infrastructure project, Reuters reported.
The planned railway will connect Zambia’s mining regions to Angola’s Lobito port, forming part of a roughly 1,300-kilometre trade corridor spanning Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia. The route is designed to streamline exports of copper and other critical minerals while lowering transport costs and improving access to global markets.
AFC, which is leading development of the project, has already secured concession agreements with the governments of Zambia and Angola and is mobilising financing from multiple partners. The corporation has committed up to $500 million toward the rail line and aims to break ground as early as 2026, signalling strong institutional backing for the project.
Progress on the wider Lobito Corridor has accelerated in recent months, with hundreds of millions of dollars already committed to rehabilitating existing rail infrastructure in Angola and expanding logistics capacity across the route. These investments are expected to significantly increase freight volumes and reduce transport costs for mineral exports by up to 30%.
The Zambia–Lobito rail link is emerging as one of Africa’s most strategic infrastructure projects, not only for regional trade but also for global supply chains tied to the energy transition. If the 2027 financial close target is achieved, the corridor could reshape how critical minerals move from Africa to international markets while strengthening economic integration across Southern and Central Africa.
