A high-speed train moving through a railway station (Image: Getty)
may soon see its by an amazing £1bn railway line revamp.
The refurbishment to the railway line is tipped to become “leading rail transport link in [the] sub-Saharan” area of the continent.
The Lobito Atlantic Railway runs from Lobito in Angola to Kolwezi, 1000 miles away in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
However there are proposals to extend the link into Zambia. The work on the railway is a joint venture betweem Trafigura, Mota-Engil and Vecturis.
According to Trafigura: “After investment, the Lobito Atlantic Railway will provide a quicker western route to market for metal and minerals produced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“The railway will be linked to a congestion-free port and minerals terminal in Lobito and represents a major new trade route between the Congolese Copperbelt and the Atlantic Ocean.”
Francisco Franca, chief executive officer of the Lobito Atlantic Railway (Image: Getty)
Trafigura is reported to be investing £358million in Angola and up to £78million in DRC.
What’s more, In February this year the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) gave the go-ahead to £197million investment, which was increased in June 2024.
On top of that, the DFC has since gone ahead with a £435million loan for development of the line.
That’s more than £1bn in public and private investment.
Don’t miss… [SCIENCE] [TRAVEL] [WORLD]
The train runs from Lobito in western Angola (Image: Getty)
Former Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço said of the project: “The Lobito Corridor, which links Angola to the Democratic Republic of the Congo…will certainly boost intra-African exports which currently account for only 14% of the total exports to the rest of the world.
“Figures like this show us the importance and necessity of putting our infrastructure at the service of the economic and social development of our countries and our continent. And we are doing so with vision, purpose and clearly defined objectives.”