Lobito Corridor Project: EU and US Experts Present $6B Pre-Feasibility Study to Boost Africa Trade
A joint delegation of experts from the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) presented the conclusions of pre-feasibility studies for the Lobito Corridor project, an initiative estimated at over $6 billion and financed by the US.
The meeting, chaired by Jean-Pierre Bemba, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), clarified the financial requirements and timeline for the first phase, which will focus on rehabilitating the Dilolo–Kolwezi–Tenke railway line.
According to experts, this first stage alone will require an investment of more than €410 million.
“Today was an opportunity to present the preliminary feasibility results, which outline the necessary investments.
We devoted four hours of work to this project, which can significantly improve living conditions and contribute to development,” said one of the experts after the session.
The project is already attracting interest from several global financial institutions. Alongside the European Union, partners including the European Investment Bank (EIB), the World Bank, and bilateral allies such as Italy and the United States have expressed support for the DRC’s role in the initiative.
The Lobito Corridor extends beyond Congolese borders, strengthening regional connectivity with Zambia and Angola.
The modernization of the Dilolo–Kolwezi–Tenke railway section is considered strategic for export flows and broader African economic integration.
The presentation of the pre-feasibility studies marks a major step in advancing the Lobito Corridor, widely regarded as a key driver for diversifying African trade routes and supporting long-term economic growth in the Great Lakes region.
The first technical meeting on the project took place on June 17, 2025, in Kinshasa, also chaired by Jean-Pierre Bemba. It brought together representatives from the EU, the US, the World Bank, the EIB, and the Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium.
Discussions at that meeting centered on the project’s technical and financial structuring, with an emphasis on defining a viable economic model.
“It is crucial to define a good economic model; without it, no investors will come,” said William Lindberg, First Secretary of the EU delegation to the DRC.
The June meeting set a timeline: a preliminary draft of the economic model is expected in September 2025, with completion planned for the following month. The EIB will lead financial structuring efforts to broaden the investor base.
On the American side, the presence of US Ambassador Lucy Tamlyn underlined Washington’s strategic interest in the initiative, while the DRC was represented by former Infrastructure Minister Alexis Gisaro.
