WASHINGTON, D.C. —The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) on Wednesday advanced a major U.S.–Africa infrastructure initiative with the signing of a loan agreement for the Lobito Atlantic Railway, a project designed to strengthen regional trade links while securing critical mineral supply chains for global markets.
The signing ceremony in Washington, D.C., confirmed the financial close for the Lobito Atlantic Railway, a corridor that links Angola’s Atlantic coast to mineral-rich regions of Central and Southern Africa. The agreement places the United States at the center of one of Africa’s most strategically watched transport projects, combining infrastructure rehabilitation with long-term economic and geopolitical aims.
Ben Black, Chief Executive Officer of DFC, signed the agreement alongside senior government and industry leaders, including Jacob Helberg, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Angola’s Minister of Transport Ricardo Viegas D’Abreu, Development Bank of South Africa Group Executive Mpho Mokwele, Richard Holtum, and Mota-Engil Deputy CEO Manuel Mota.
The financing supports the rehabilitation and operation of a brownfield mineral port in Lobito and an approximately 1,300-kilometer rail line stretching from the port to Luau at Angola’s eastern border. Together, these assets form the backbone of the Lobito Corridor, a route expected to transform the movement of minerals from Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia to international markets.
According to DFC estimates, the investment, made alongside the Development Bank of South Africa, will raise Lobito’s transport capacity ten-fold to about 4.6 million metric tons and cut the cost of moving critical minerals by as much as 30 percent. The scale of the upgrade positions the corridor as one of the most efficient export routes in the region.
“This investment builds on the impactful work DFC is already leading along the corridor,” Black said, adding that the loan agreement “further characterizes President Trump’s commitment to forging strong partnerships and alliances in Africa.” He noted that the project aligns with DFC’s mandate to drive sustainable growth while strengthening strategic infrastructure that serves shared U.S. and African interests.
For Angola, the agreement carries both symbolic and practical weight. Minister Ricardo Viegas D’Abreu described the financing as a turning point for the country’s engagement with U.S. institutions. “While DFC has previously supported projects in the country, this financing stands out for its unprecedented scale and strategic significance,” he said. “It sets an important benchmark for other sectors to access capital from American institutions.”
He added that, as concessionaire of the Lobito Corridor railway and port, Lobito Atlantic Railway plays a central role in linking regions and facilitating trade. With the new financing, the company will strengthen operations and ensure the railway runs at full capacity, supporting sustained growth in Angola and across the wider region.
Private sector partners echoed that view. Trafigura CEO Richard Holtum said the railway represents a critical domestic and regional asset. “As a shareholder of LAR, we see the railway as a key driver of economic development and a reliable route for moving critical metals to global markets,” he said.
Mota-Engil Deputy CEO Manuel Mota framed the agreement as the result of long-term collaboration among public and private partners. “This strategic agreement will expand transport capacity, reduce transit costs, and open access to the mineral-rich regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia,” he said, adding that the financing strengthens confidence in Angola’s ability to attract world-class infrastructure investment.
Beyond regional development, the Lobito Atlantic Railway carries clear strategic implications. Central Africa holds reserves of minerals vital to U.S. industries, including technology and defense. By supporting infrastructure that enables reliable access to these resources, DFC aims to secure supply chains while limiting the risk of monopolization by rival powers.
Africa now represents the second-largest share of DFC’s global portfolio, with cumulative exposure exceeding $10 billion. Established in 2019 with bipartisan backing, DFC serves as the U.S. government’s international investment arm, partnering with the private sector to advance foreign policy goals, strengthen national security, and mobilize private capital in priority sectors such as critical minerals, modern infrastructure, and advanced technology.
With the loan agreement signed and financing in place, the Lobito Atlantic Railway moves from planning to delivery, setting the stage for a corridor that could reshape trade flows across Central and Southern Africa while anchoring a new chapter in U.S.–Africa economic cooperation.
