Lobito Atlantic Railway (“LAR”) announced it has secured USD753 million in financing from the US International Development Financial Corporation (DFC) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to support the rehabilitation of the 1,300 km railway in Angola, which connects the Mineral Terminal at the Port of Lobito to Luau on Angola’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The loan will enable upgrades to the railway’s track infrastructure, workshops, signalling systems, and rolling stock — enhancing the capacity, efficiency and reliability of the shortest and most direct import-export route between the Copperbelt mining region of the DRC and international markets via the Atlantic Ocean.
Nicholas Fournier, Chief Executive Officer of LAR, commented: “This financing from the DFC and DBSA marks a major milestone in our vision to establish the Lobito Corridor as Africa’s premier trade route. The funding will enable LAR to significantly expand capacity, improve efficiency, and strengthen economic connectivity across Angola and the wider region.”
The Lobito Railway serves a diverse portfolio of mining companies, regional traders, and business and logistics operators, providing access to global markets for metals and minerals mined in the DRC through the world-class deepwater port of Lobito.
Beyond its role as a vital export route for critical metals and minerals, LAR also functions as a critical import gateway, positioning the corridor as a powerful catalyst for domestic and regional economic growth across sub-Saharan Africa.
