Menu

Zambia's plans to secure a direct rail link to the Atlantic Ocean moved a step closer to reality this week as President Hakainde Hichilema met senior executives from the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) to review progress on the Zambia-Lobito Railway Project.

The meeting, held in Zambia, brought together President Hichilema and an AFC delegation led by its President and Chief Executive Officer Samaila Zubairu. AFC is serving as the lead sponsor and developer of the railway project, which aims to strengthen regional trade links and support economic growth across southern Africa.

The proposed railway will span approximately 830 kilometres, connecting Chingola in Zambia's Copperbelt region to Luacano in neighbouring Angola. From there, it will link to the existing Benguela Railway, providing Zambia with direct access to Angola's Port of Lobito on the Atlantic coast.

Project developers say the rail corridor has achieved several key milestones in recent months. AFC announced preferred engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) bidders for both the Zambian and Angolan sections of the railway following an international tender process. The project has also secured memoranda of understanding and letters of intent from prospective users covering around two million tonnes of freight annually.

The railway forms part of the wider Lobito Corridor initiative, a regional infrastructure programme designed to improve transport connectivity and facilitate exports. Once operational, freight shipments between Zambia's Copperbelt and the Port of Lobito are expected to take approximately seven days.

While copper and other critical minerals are expected to be among the railway's primary exports, project partners say the corridor is intended to support a broader range of economic activities, including agricultural exports, petroleum distribution, manufacturing and regional trade.

According to AFC, the railway's commercial strategy is built around handling about five million tonnes of freight annually at full capacity. Cargo is expected to include petroleum products, agricultural commodities, copper, cobalt, zinc and other industrial goods. AFC is targeting financial close for the project in 2027.

Discussions between AFC and the Zambian government also focused on securing land and rights of way for the railway and related facilities, including agricultural, petroleum and freight-handling infrastructure. Participants additionally reviewed rail sector policy measures aimed at improving the corridor's long-term competitiveness and integrating it with Zambia's existing railway network.

President Hichilema described the railway as a cornerstone of Zambia's economic development agenda.

"The Zambia-Lobito Railway is central to our vision of transforming Zambia into a competitive regional hub for trade, manufacturing, agriculture and mineral value addition," he said. "By connecting our productive sectors to international markets more efficiently, we can reduce logistics costs, attract investment and create jobs."

Zubairu said the project could help Zambia capture more value from its natural resources by encouraging domestic processing and manufacturing.

"Starting in Chingola, it gives Zambia a seven-day route to the Atlantic and every reason to process, manufacture and add value at home," he said. "With preferred EPC bidders selected and strong interest from freight users, we are now working with our partners to reach financial close."

AFC said it continues to collaborate with the governments of Zambia and Angola, as well as international partners including the African Development Bank, the European Union, the United States, Italy's development finance institutions and export credit agencies, to move the project into the construction phase.