The mineral-rich mining regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, and Angola provide all the raw materials necessary for the energy transition. A new railway route, called the Lobito Corridor, will ensure the fast, safe, and cost-effective transport of critical minerals such as copper, cobalt, lithium, coltan, nickel, and rare earths to Europe.
The main purpose of this project is to reduce European dependence on China, whose influence in Africa is steadily increasing. The Lobito Corridor offers an alternative to the supply chains controlled by Beijing, which represent an economic and political risk for Germany and the entire European Union.
The European Union's Global Gateway Initiative
In response to China's Belt and Road Initiative, the EU launched Global Gateway, a global infrastructure strategy whose flagship project is the Lobito Corridor. The US is also investing significantly in the development of this route. Angolan economists estimate that the project will become one of the most important transport corridors in the world, and numerous European and German companies are already actively involved in its implementation.
Reducing Time, Costs, and CO₂ Emissions
Until now, raw materials were mainly transported by trucks on damaged roads, over thousands of kilometers to distant ports in South Africa or Tanzania, with times that could exceed one month. The rail corridor reduces transport time from Kolwezi to Lobito to just seven days, thus saving time, money, and carbon emissions.
Additionally, the west coast route is safer in terms of piracy compared to the area near the Horn of Africa, where attacks on ships are frequent.
Progress of the Lobito Corridor Implementation
The European consortium officially began commercial freight transport on this route in February 2024. The first delivery of copper from Congo to the United States was made six months later, and in May 2026 the first batch of cobalt was transported. In 2025, approximately 200,000 tons of goods were transported, and capacity is increasing, with the goal of reaching one million tons annually.
