Zambia anticipates the start of construction on the Lobito Rail Corridor, a major railway set to link Zambia's and Angola's coastlines and connect the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, by the third quarter of 2026. This information comes from Zambia's Transport Minister, Frank Tayali, as reported by Reuters.
The minister also mentioned growing interest in the project from the United States, the EU, and neighboring countries in the region.
"We have a developer from Africa Finance Corporation handling financial arrangements, and everything is moving along well. This is a massive endeavor, and we believe in its potential to contribute to global food security and help reclaim arid African lands for agriculture," Reuters quoted Tayali.
Meanwhile, Angola's State Minister for Economic Coordination, Jose Massano, said that the government is engaged in discussions with private sector investors regarding the funding of the project.
"We might have to adjust one or two points in the agreements to simplify communication between operators and financiers. This process takes time, but we are committed to seeing it succeed," Massano stated.
The Lobito Corridor is a planned railway designed to speed up the export of minerals from East Africa through the Angolan port of Lobito. Once completed, it will connect Zambia's copper belt in the Chingola region with Angola's Benguela railway and the Lobito port.
In December 2024, the administration of US President Joe Biden allocated an additional $600 million for the project's financing.
Angelina Shemyakina
