Zambia-Lobito Railway Project Advances Toward Financial Close as President Hichilema Meets AFC Leadership
The project is progressing toward financial close following the selection of preferred EPC contractors and the signing of letters of intent covering approximately 2 million metric tonnes per annum (MTPA).
LUSAKA, November 3, 2026 – His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, received a delegation from the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), led by President & Chief Executive Officer Samaila Zubairu, to review progress on the Zambia-Lobito Railway Project. AFC, the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, serves as the lead developer and sponsor of the project.
The approximately 830-kilometer railway line will connect Chingola in the Zambian Copperbelt to Luacano in Angola, linking directly into the existing Benguela Railway to provide seamless access to the Atlantic Ocean via the Port of Lobito.
A strategic component of the broader Lobito Corridor development, the project has achieved several major milestones. Last month, AFC announced the winning bidders for the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contracts across both the Angolan and Zambian sections following an international competitive tender. In addition, Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Letters of Intent (LOIs) have been signed with anchor off-takers, covering an estimated 2 million tonnes of freight per year.
Beyond creating a direct Atlantic export route for Zambia’s copper and critical minerals, the project is being developed as an integrated economic corridor designed to drive agricultural exports, fuel logistics, manufacturing, and intra-regional trade. Transit times between the Copperbelt and the Port of Lobito are projected at approximately seven days.
The commercial strategy targets a steady-state annual freight volume of approximately 5 million tonnes, comprising petroleum products, agricultural commodities, copper, cobalt, zinc, and other industrial cargo. AFC anticipates reaching financial close in 2027.
Discussions focused on ongoing collaboration between AFC and the Zambian government regarding key project execution phases, including land acquisition for the railway right-of-way, agricultural zones, fuel depots, and cargo handling hubs. The meeting also addressed essential railway policy frameworks to support the corridor’s long-term competitiveness, notably its operational integration with the Zambia Railways network and the Chingola-Ndola line.
President Hichilema reaffirmed the railway’s strategic importance for Zambia’s economic expansion and regional integration, stating:
“The Zambia-Lobito railway line is central to our vision of positioning Zambia as a competitive regional hub for trade, industry, agriculture, and mineral beneficiation. By connecting our productive sectors more efficiently to global markets, we can lower logistics costs, attract investment, and generate jobs. We commend the progress achieved by AFC and will continue to work side by side to drive this strategic asset to completion.”
Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of AFC, added:
“Every tonne of raw materials leaving Zambia unprocessed represents lost jobs. This railway is a game-changer. Starting from Chingola, it provides Zambia with a seven-day route to the Atlantic while creating a powerful incentive to process, manufacture, and add value locally. With preferred EPC contractors selected and strong commercial traction from off-takers, we are now actively collaborating with the Zambian and Angolan governments, the African Development Bank, the Italian Government, and our international partners to finalize financing. We are building a railway; Zambia will build its economy on top of it.”
AFC continues to partner with the Governments of Angola and Zambia, the European Union, the United States Government, the Italian Government, and the African Development Bank—alongside Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) and the Italian export credit agency (SACE)—to break ground on the Zambia-Lobito Railway construction.
