The Lobito Corridor, a railway route linking Angola to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia, is considered part of a set of infrastructures “essential for Africa’s competitiveness” in a world moving toward green industrialization, according to a recent study by the Africa Finance Corporation.
The research indicates that clean energy, efficient logistics, and integrated corridors such as the Lobito Corridor can reduce carbon intensity and improve access to markets where traceable, low-carbon supply chains are increasingly required.
The study places infrastructure at the heart of Africa’s mineral strategy—not as a passive enabler, but as the system connecting raw materials, processing capacity, and demand.
“The cost and reliability of energy, transport connectivity, and access to industrial land ultimately determine the viability of transformation,” the Africa Finance Corporation document emphasizes.
To support this, the report maps mineral deposits and production assets alongside railways, ports, power generation hubs, and transmission networks to identify where regional value chains can realistically be developed.
It also calls for targeted interventions in shared rail corridors and cross-border electricity transmission, particularly in mineral-rich regions where coordinated infrastructure could unlock scale, lower supply costs, and support regional industrial platforms.
Source: Economia & Mercado
