Angola unveils major projects under the Lobito Corridor development plan

Angola has introduced a substantial portfolio of 144 project opportunities valued at over US$12 billion as part of the ongoing Lobito Corridor development plan. The initiative is designed to elevate the vital transport and logistics route into a primary engine for regional trade, economic investment, industrialisation, and job creation across southern and central Africa.

[See more: Angola airport maintenance contract awarded to China’s AVIC]

The comprehensive figures were officially presented in Lusaka, Zambia, by an Angolan delegation led by Transport Minister Ricardo Viegas de D’Abreu. This took place during the second Ministerial Meeting of the Lobito Corridor Coordination Mechanism, Forbes reports.

The Lobito Corridor functions as a critical strategic transit route connecting the Port of Lobito on Angola’s Atlantic coast directly to the interior of the African continent via the established Benguela railway. Through planned expansions and regional connections, the route bridges Angola with the mineral-rich territories of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. Within Angolan territory, the infrastructure spans approximately 1,344 kilometres, traversing the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bié, and Moxico all the way to Luau at the Congolese border.

Advancing the Lobito Corridor development plan

The high-level meeting convened key officials from Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia, alongside representatives from international financial institutions and various development partners. Attendees gathered to evaluate ongoing progress and determine effective measures to accelerate the full implementation of the corridor, Forbes says.

Among the prominent milestones highlighted during the discussions was the awarding of a 30-year concession for railway operations to the Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium, which is formed by Trafigura, Mota-Engil, and Vecturis. According to Forbes, approximately US$700 million in dedicated financing has been successfully mobilised to support infrastructure enhancement.

Operational forecasts indicate that the Lobito Atlantic Railway expects to transport around 400,000 tonnes of cargo through the network in 2026, marking a significant increase from previous years. International backing for the overarching project remains robust, involving multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, and the African Development Bank, alongside national governments committed to regional integration.