In a digital press briefing, Helaina Matza, Acting Special Coordinator for the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI), outlined the U.S. commitment to expanding the Trans-Africa Corridor. The recent visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Tanzania explored opportunities to broaden the Lobito Corridor’s reach in the DRC and integrate Tanzania with the corridor investments, making significant progress towards the vision of a Trans-Africa Corridor from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. Key initiatives include ongoing U.S.-led investments in the Lobito Corridor, the development of a greenfield Zambia-Lobito rail line, and extending the economic corridor to the Indian Ocean to foster regional trade and economic growth.
Matza emphasised that reducing trade route transit times from 45 days to 36 hours can unlock significant market opportunities, transforming how agribusiness develops, optimising locations for cold storage, warehousing, logistics, and supporting local food producers. These improvements are crucial for supporting clean energy supply chains and critical mineral projects, with a focus on regional processing and clean energy solutions.
During the recent visit, Matza announced project insurance by the Development Finance Corporation for Lifezone Metals as part of the PGI effort. This partnership with Lifezone Metals supports a significant nickel project and aims to develop a special economic zone between Kabanga and Kahama in Tanzania. The zone will facilitate in-country processing of nickel products and potentially other feedstock from across the region, while also investing in training local Tanzanians to engage in all parts of the industry’s value chain.
The Zambia-Lobito 800-kilometre greenfield rail project is progressing on an ambitious timeline set by a seven-sided Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in October 2023, involving the United States, the European Union, and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). A $10 million feasibility study was launched and is nearing completion, which will help identify and address any viability gaps.
Fundraising efforts are actively underway, with the African Development Bank committing $500 million, Italy pledging $320 million, and the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) contributing an additional $250 million to support broader infrastructure development. Efforts are ongoing to attract more lenders, supporters, and potential capacity pre-bookings to enhance the project’s commercial viability. As feasibility results become available in the coming months, further fundraising for equity and project debt will be pursued to secure the necessary commercial financing to complete the project.
The U.S. believes that rail investments will provide significant benefits to communities along the Trans-Africa Corridor. The initial focus was on refurbishing the Benguela rail line across Angola, supported by a $250 million commitment from the DFC, which also included upgrades in the DRC. Recognising broader regional needs, the strategy shifted to the more ambitious 800-kilometre greenfield rail project, marking the first U.S.-led rail project of its kind in over a generation. This new rail line aims to connect Zambia’s land-linked opportunities and extend to Tanzania, enhancing regional connectivity to the Indian Ocean.
This development involves innovative financing collaborations with partners, including the European Union, the Italian Government, the African Development Bank, and the AFC. As the project moves into phase three, the focus will be on deepening engagement in the DRC, expanding economic benefits to Tanzania, and exploring opportunities in other sectors that align with the development needs and priorities of the participating countries.
The PGI’s strategy includes delivering high-quality, sustainable infrastructure projects that drive economic development, create jobs, and improve trade routes. By leveraging public-private partnerships (PPPs), the initiative aligns with regional priorities in agriculture, digital connectivity, food security, and clean energy. The U.S. approach focuses on commercially led investments and collaboration with private developers to avoid unsustainable debt for African countries. This expansion supports Africa’s broader goals of economic diversification and resilience, aligning with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the continent’s drive for greater integration and shared prosperity.
