DRC Approves US$1.26 Billion Dilolo-Sakania Railway Modernisation Project
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is advancing a US$1.258 billion project to rehabilitate and modernise the 1,004.5-kilometre Dilolo-Sakania railway, strengthening a critical section of the Lobito Corridor.
The government adopted a draft collaboration convention with Mota-Engil Africa covering the railway’s financing, rehabilitation, modernisation, operation, maintenance and eventual transfer to the state.
The railway runs through the DRC’s mineral-rich southeastern region and provides an important link to the Lobito Corridor, connecting the country’s mining areas with Angola’s Atlantic port of Lobito.
Once upgraded, the railway is expected to progressively reach transport capacity of approximately 13.7 million tonnes per year, supporting the movement of copper, cobalt and other minerals to international markets.
The project is also expected to improve regional logistics, reduce transport costs and strengthen the competitiveness of the DRC’s mining industry as production expands.
International backing is already emerging. In December 2025, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) issued a letter of intent to support Mota-Engil’s rehabilitation, operation and eventual transfer of the railway.
The potential financing could reach US$1 billion, subject to further project review and conditions.
Mota-Engil is also involved in the Angolan section of the Lobito Corridor, which connects the Port of Lobito to the DRC border.
For the DRC, upgrading the Dilolo-Sakania line could provide a more efficient rail connection between its mineral-producing regions and the Atlantic coast while supporting broader regional trade.
The US$1.258 billion figure represents the planned project investment and does not mean the full amount has already been deployed.
Implementation remains subject to the completion of financing, contractual and operational arrangements.
Nevertheless, the government’s move marks a significant step toward modernising the DRC’s rail infrastructure and strengthening the Lobito Corridor as a strategic route for critical mineral exports.
