Luanda: The Deputy Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Jean Pierre Bemba, announced on Wednesday in Luanda that the Lobito Corridor is expected to facilitate the annual transportation of approximately 1.5 million tons of ore, thereby strengthening the flow of mineral resources from the region to the global market. Speaking at a session dedicated to the project’s development at the third Summit on Infrastructure Financing in Africa, Bemba said the corridor’s operation will substantially reduce export costs and time. Currently, exports are carried out through the ports of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Durban (South Africa), and Beira (Mozambique).
According to Angola Press News Agency, Bemba stated that with the Lobito Corridor fully operational, costs could decrease by around 30 percent. He also mentioned that the DRC is investing in the rehabilitation of road and rail networks to improve transportation efficiency from mining areas.
Zambia’s Minister of Infrastructure and Urban Development, Charles Milupi, considered the corridor strategic because it allows Zambia to connect directly to the Atlantic Ocean through the Port of Lobito, revitalizing the Tazara Corridor. Milupi stressed that investments in the Lobito Corridor are guaranteed to yield returns because they are expected to boost not only the mining sector, but also the growth of the processing industry, agriculture, and technological development.
The official revealed that Zambia plans to increase its annual copper production to three million tons, underscoring the importance of ensuring logistical routes capable of supporting this export volume – a goal that the Lobito Corridor should effectively fulfill.
The third Summit on Infrastructure Financing in Africa, held under the motto ‘Capital, corridors, trade: investing in infrastructure for AFCFTA and shared prosperity,’ is taking place in Luanda. The summit brings together more than 2,000 delegates, including investors, representatives of international financial institutions, experts, and policymakers. It will also analyze financing strategies for major projects on the continent, with a particular focus on enhancing the Lobito Corridor as a logistics hub in Africa.
