DRC, Angola sign railway deal to boost mineral transport, access via Lobito Corridor

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola signed a railway agreement on Aug. 26 aimed at improving access to major economic centers, easing the transportation of minerals, and strengthening the DRC's access to the Atlantic Ocean through Angola's Lobito port, an official from the DRC president's office told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy.

DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Angolan President João Lourenço signed the deal, emphasizing the strategic importance of the Lobito Corridor, which links mineral-producing areas in the DRC and Zambia to Angola's Atlantic coast. Backed by the US, the EU, the African Development Bank, the Africa Finance Corporation, and the governments of Angola, the DRC and Zambia, the refurbishment of the Lobito Corridor aims to reduce logistics costs and carbon emissions linked to exports of metals and other bulk commodities.

"The project will cost about $1.258 billion for studies, rehabilitation, modernization, infrastructure expansion, operations and maintenance of the railway," the official said.

For mineral exporters in the DRC and Zambia, the Lobito route offers a shorter path to Atlantic markets than traditional corridors through ports such as Durban, Dar es Salaam and Beira, where border delays, road congestion and port bottlenecks can disrupt supply chains. A fully operational route could reduce transit times and improve access to shipping lanes serving Europe and North America.

The agreement comes as governments and multilateral lenders have stepped up efforts to develop alternative trade corridors for critical minerals, reflecting broader efforts to secure supply chains for materials essential to the energy transition.

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed the CIF China clean copper concentrate treatment charge and refining charge at minus $190/mt and minus 19 cents/lb, respectively, Aug. 27, unchanged from Aug. 26.