The selection covers both sections of the 830-kilometre greenfield railway between Zambia and Angola’s Atlantic coast, with a separate preferred bidder for each. Mota-Engil is part of both consortia.
AFC says contract negotiations begin in November 2026, with the aim of concluding the EPC agreements within 8 to 12 weeks, subject to satisfactory technical, commercial and legal negotiations. It says the railway is expected to create opportunities for trade and industrialisation along the corridor, including value addition to copper, cobalt and agricultural products.
- Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has selected preferred bidders for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for the 830-kilometre Zambia Lobito Railway.
- A consortium of Webuild S.p.A., Mota-Engil and IC İçtaş Construction is the preferred bidder for the Zambian section.
- A consortium of Mota-Engil and Odebrecht Engineering and Construction is the preferred bidder for the Angolan section.
- Contract negotiations are to begin in November 2026, with AFC aiming to conclude the EPC agreements within 8 to 12 weeks.
- AFC is developing the project through Trans African Rail Company FZCO (TARC) and the project companies Zambia Lobito Railway Limited and Zambia Lobito Railway S.A.
- The Lobito Corridor is part of Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa, which includes a €250 million facility from CDP backed by SACE.
Lagos, Nigeria, 27th October 2026 - Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Lead Sponsor and Developer of the Zambia Lobito Railway Project, has selected the preferred bidders for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts for the 830-kilometre greenfield railway, following a competitive international tender process.
The consortium comprising Webuild S.p.A., Mota-Engil and IC İçtaş Construction has been selected as the Preferred Bidder for the Zambian section, while the consortium comprising Mota-Engil and Odebrecht Engineering and Construction has been selected as the Preferred Bidder for the Angolan section of the Project
Contract negotiations will begin in November 2026, with the aim of concluding EPC agreements within 8 to 12 weeks, subject to satisfactory technical, commercial and legal negotiations.
The Zambia Lobito Railway Project is expected to unlock billions of dollars in economic value through new opportunities for trade and industrialisation along the corridor connecting Zambia to Angola's Atlantic coast, facilitating value addition to the region’s strategic minerals, including copper and cobalt, as well as agricultural products. By reducing logistics costs and improving access to global markets, the railway will strengthen regional integration and enable African economies to process their resources locally.
The project is being developed by AFC through the Trans African Rail Company FZCO (TARC), the project holding company, and the project companies, Zambia Lobito Railway Limited and Zambia Lobito Railway S.A.
Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of Africa Finance Corporation, said: “Africa’s growing market needs infrastructure that connects our resources to production, our producers to consumers, and our people to opportunity. The Zambia Lobito Railway will help build competitive battery mineral and agricultural value chains, anchoring new industrial cities and creating jobs along the corridor. Selecting preferred EPC bidders brings us closer to delivery. Working with our partners, we are building the foundations for African economies to produce more, trade more and retain more of the value they create.”
The announcement follows significant progress since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in October 2023 involving the governments of Angola and Zambia, the European Union, the United States Government, the Government of Italy and the African Development Bank. Subsequent milestones include the completion of feasibility and technical studies, the signing of concession agreements in 2024 and intergovernmental agreements in 2025, and the completion of preliminary engineering designs.
The Lobito Corridor is a flagship project under Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa, a government initiative to strengthen investment and economic partnerships with African countries. This includes a €250 million financing facility from Italian development finance institution CDP, backed by Italian export credit agency SACE, to support Italian participation in infrastructure projects, including the railway.
Throughout this process, AFC has worked closely with the governments of Angola and Zambia to coordinate key approvals, align priorities and advance the project towards implementation.
AFC and its partners have also advanced the Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), alongside preparations for the competitive EPC tender process.
The selection marks a significant milestone towards delivering the strategic railway corridor connecting Zambia to Angola's Atlantic coast through the Port of Lobito. The Project is expected to transform regional connectivity, reduce logistics costs, facilitate mineral and agricultural exports, and unlock new opportunities for industrialisation and regional trade.
AFC remains committed to advancing this transformative infrastructure investment alongside its partners and mobilising capital to accelerate its implementation.
