According to a statement from the Ministry of Transport, this agreement will allow the railway connection between the town of Luacano, in Angola, and Chingola, in Zambia, on an approximate length of 830 kilometers of new railway line.
The Lobito-Zambia Railway Project is part of the context of the Lobito Corridor, a railway infrastructure that crosses Angola for 1,300 kilometers, connecting the Port of Lobito (coast) to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo to transport the production of critical minerals from the Copperbelt (DRCongo) and Kolwezi (Zambia) regions.
“The signing of this agreement follows the concession contracts signed in September 2024 by both countries, in New York, with Africa Finance Corporation and ZL Railway Limited”, the note highlights.
The Governments of Angola and Zambia undertake, under this agreement, to ensure a favorable environment for the execution of the project, prevent interruptions and promote mutual consultations in situations that may affect its implementation.
The instrument also provides for dispute resolution mechanisms based on diplomacy and, ultimately, international arbitration.
The Minister of Transport, Ricardo de Abreu, signatory of this agreement, quoted in the statement, praised the signing of the instrument, considering it a “decisive step, taken by Angola and Zambia, towards the construction of a strategic project with credible partners and a vision for the future – specifically with the AFC”.
“This initiative represents a joint commitment to strengthening the Lobito Corridor, as a platform to boost global trade exchanges and drive economic and social development, contributing directly to the well-being of our populations,” he said.
The governor highlighted that this project “will deepen Angola’s role as a regional logistics and production and trade center, not only with Zambia, but with the rest of the world.”
