Let’s look at the “Phase 2” expansion—the Zambia-Lobito Rail Line. While the Angolan section was a “brownfield” project (rehabilitating existing tracks), the Zambian extension is a “greenfield” project, meaning it is being built entirely from scratch.
The Route and the Mines
This new 800 km extension is designed to bypass the traditional, congested routes through the DRC’s Katanga province, providing a direct “horizontal” line from the Zambian Copperbelt to the Atlantic.
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Chingola, Zambia: This is the starting hub on the Zambian side. It is the heart of the Zambian Copperbelt.
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Mwinilunga District: The line will head west through Northwest Zambia, an area previously underserved by rail but rich in untapped mineral potential.
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Jimbe Border: The rail will cross from Zambia into Angola at the Jimbe border post, eventually connecting to the main Benguela line at Luacano.
Key Mines Benefiting from this Extension
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First Quantum Minerals (Kansanshi & Sentinel Mines): These are two of the largest copper mines in Africa. Currently, they have to truck their copper long distances; the new rail link will pass within reachable distance of their operations in the North-Western Province.
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Barrick Gold (Lumwana Mine): Barrick is currently undergoing a $2 billion expansion of Lumwana to transform it into a “super-pit.” They are a primary advocate for this rail line to move their massive increase in output.
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KoBold Metals (Mingomba Deposit): Backed by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, KoBold is using AI to develop what could be the highest-grade copper mine in Zambia. They have explicitly cited the Lobito Corridor as a key factor in their logistics planning.
Who is Building it?
The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) was appointed as the lead developer in late 2024. In late 2025, they secured the primary environmental clearances and finalized the consortium of private investors and Western development banks (like the U.S. DFC and the Italian SACE) to begin heavy construction.