Reviving Angola's Lobito Corridor, a key economic route connecting Southern and Central Africa

The Lobito Economic Corridor Project is a multimodal transport facility that consists of a network of roads, railway lines, airports and the port of Lobito. Among other things, the project seeks to promote domestic and cross-border trade and value chain development along the Lobito Corridor.

The Lobito Corridor stretches from the Port of Lobito located in the city of Lobito in Angola and lying on the Atlantic Ocean from West to East through the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bie and Moxico, all in Angola.

It stretches between Southern and Central Africa but for many years, since civil war broke out in Angola in the mid-seventies, has not been operational as an economic route for mining and trade.

Minister of the Northwest Province of Zambia, Robert Lihefu emphasised that the Lobito Corridor represents a pivotal project, serving as a robust route connecting nations, local news outlet Angop reported.

The Lobito Corridor project, initially selected from 40 European and North American investment proposals, aims to expand the railway line. This expansion could transform the railway into a primary transport infrastructure linking the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to global markets via Angola. Further extensions from Zambia and DRC could reach Tanzania and, eventually, the Indian Ocean. 

The Lobito Railway Corridor extends 400 kilometres into the Democratic Republic of Congo, reaching Solwezi in Zambia. The corridor is also connected to the extensive railway network managed by the Congo National Railway Society.

The Northwest province governor highlighted the project's potential to ease commercial transactions and exports of copper and nickel. The region is the second-largest copper producer globally and boasts the world's largest nickel reserves, according to Angop.

He emphasized the significance of the cooperation forum in strengthening partnerships in commerce, cultural development, business opportunities, employment generation (especially for young people and women), health, education, defense, and security.

Governor Muangala of Moxico underscored the importance of expanding and interconnecting road and railway networks. He commended Angola's efforts in recovering and constructing infrastructure, such as the Lobito Corridor, to facilitate the movement of people and goods between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

Muangala added that Angola is making substantial investments in telecommunications, notably highlighting ANGOSAT II, which serves the Southern African region.