Angola is spearheading a major infrastructure push, seeking $4.5 billion to extend the Lobito Corridor railway into Zambia’s mineral-rich Copperbelt region. This project aims to drastically streamline export logistics for the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, which together produce over 13% of the world’s copper.
Currently, shipping this critical metal is a weeks-long ordeal through congested transit routes. The new rail link promises a faster, more efficient Atlantic route, enhancing global supply chain reliability. Backed by the United States, the initiative also carries significant geopolitical weight as a counterbalance to Chinese infrastructure influence in Africa.
While a substantial US loan is pending, recent commitments from Italy and the African Development Bank signal growing momentum, with construction slated to begin next year.