International investor momentum in support of the Lobito Corridor continues to grow, with global commitments to the strategic regional infrastructure project now exceeding $6 billion. The corridor, which connects the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Angola and Zambia to international markets via Angola’s Lobito port, is increasingly seen as a key mineral supply chain in Africa and a cornerstone of regional industrial integration.
In December 2025, the parties finalized a $535 million financing package to advance the project, co-financed by the United States Development Finance Corporation, Trafigura, Mota Engil, Vecturis, and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. The funding will support the rehabilitation of the 1,289km Benguela Railway, a key logistics artery connecting the port of Lobito with the mineral-rich region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The package follows the publication of engineering, procurement and construction tenders in October 2025, paving the way for full-scale project execution. To date, the United States has committed more than $4 billion to the Regional Corridor Initiative.
European participation expanded significantly in 2025. Nearly €57 million in subsidies has been pledged across mining, transport and energy projects along the Angolan section of the corridor, while the EU has announced an additional €200 million for energy, water, transport and mining investments in Zambia. These commitments form part of the EU’s commitment of more than €2 billion to the Lobito Corridor under the Global Gateway Framework and underline Europe’s strategic interest in ensuring diverse and resilient mineral supply chains.
The mobilization of private capital further strengthened the financial base of the corridor. A consortium led by Switzerland-based Menomadine & Mitrelli Group and Angolan sovereign wealth fund has launched a $1 billion investment vehicle aimed at attracting private investors to the Lobito Corridor and related infrastructure development. African multilateral institutions are also playing a catalytic role. African Finance Corporation, as the lead project developer and financier, has secured capital commitments from investors in Japan, Canada, Europe and the Arab world in 2025, while the African Development Bank is mobilizing up to $500 million through dedicated programs with international partners.
With global demand for critical minerals expected to quadruple by 2040, the Lobito Corridor has emerged as a strategic platform to link Africa’s resource base with global energy transition markets. DRC’s estimated $24 trillion of untapped mineral resources and Zambia’s goal to increase copper production to 3 million tonnes per year position the $16 billion corridor as a transformative asset for regional development. For the EU and the US, this project represents a concrete opportunity to diversify supply chains and reduce dependence on China for energy transition metals.
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