Lobito Corridor: Africa’s Mega-Project Facing Delivery Test

A general view of operations at the mineral terminal of the Port of Lobito, operated by the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) consortium, on April 22, 2026. The Lobito Atlantic Railway supports mining companies, freight operators and regional traders by transporting copper, cobalt, sulphur, reagents, fuel, agricultural, industrial and commercial products to and from Angola and the DRC. All bulk and container shipments are handled through two state-of-the-art terminals at the Port of Lobito. Photo / Phill Magakoe / AFP
A general view of operations at the mineral terminal of the Port of Lobito, operated by the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) consortium, on April 22, 2026. Phill Magakoe / AFP

By François AUSSEILL

The Lobito Corridor mega-project linking three African countries is shifting from blueprint to proving ground in the global race for critical minerals.

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by Agence France-Presse

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Lobito Atlantic Railway CEO, Nicholas Fournier poses for a photograph in Lobito on April 22, 2026. The Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) is a 1,300 km (plus a 450 km DRC extension) rail line and consortium operating a critical freight route connecting the Angola Port of Lobito to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Copperbelt. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP)

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