The Zambia-Lobito Greenfield Railway Extension — approximately 800km of new-build rail connecting Angola’s Benguela line at Luacano to Zambia’s Copperbelt at Chingola — is the critical minerals supply chain component of the Lobito Corridor. AFC (Africa Finance Corporation) is lead developer. A $1.32bn commitment was secured from AFC ($500m) and AfDB ($500m) plus Italy ($320m) by April 2026. EPC contractors visited the site in Zambia and bid submissions were expected in May 2026. Financial close is targeted for Q1 2027; groundbreaking planned for late 2026 or early 2027; initial operations targeted for 2027-2028. The project is backed by both the EU Global Gateway and the US Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII).
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