Andre Klynsmith

Mining and Commodities

Lot 1B Goes to Tender: Why the Lobito Corridor's Zambian Extension Is the SADC Copper Logistics Story to Watch in 2026

The Lobito Corridor's Zambian extension — the section that would link the Copperbelt directly to Angola's Atlantic coast — is moving from blueprint to bidding. Nine engineering, procurement and construction contractors have toured the Zambian site ahead of submitting bids, marking the most concrete step yet toward an 830km railway that could reshape how SADC copper and cobalt reach world markets.

Mining and Commodities

10 June 2026 • 5 min read

Lot 1B is the part of the Lobito Corridor that matters most for SADC: the new-build line into Zambia's mineral heartland. With contractors now competing for the work and financing taking shape, the western route to the Atlantic is edging closer to reality — though the timeline runs well into 2027.

From Concept to Contract

The Lobito Corridor is a roughly US$6.6 billion, 1,300km-plus railway scheme designed to carry minerals from the DRC and Zambia to the Angolan port of Lobito on the Atlantic. The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) is leading the project as developer and sponsor. Its most significant new component is the greenfield Zambian section — Lot 1B — an 830km line that on its own is projected to require as much as US$5 billion and is targeted for completion by 2030.

The move to bidding is the clearest sign yet that the project is progressing. Nine EPC contractors from multiple countries have visited the Zambian site, with bids expected and an evaluation process scheduled to conclude later in 2026. If timelines hold, preferred contractors could be selected and early-stage works could begin by late 2026 or early 2027.

Why the Atlantic Route Changes the Map

Today, most Copperbelt metal moves south and east — by road to South African ports or via the Tanzania-Zambia line to Dar es Salaam. The Lobito route flips that geography, offering Atlantic access that can cut transit times to European and North American buyers by up to 20 days compared with road-dependent options. For a region whose copper and cobalt feed the global energy transition, a shorter, more reliable corridor is a competitive advantage, not a convenience.

The Lobito push also sits alongside China's roughly US$1.4 billion revival of the TAZARA line to Dar es Salaam. Far from cancelling each other out, the two projects give SADC's mining economy something it has long lacked: genuine route choice. When one corridor is disrupted — as the recent DRC border-bridge collapse showed — alternatives keep the metal moving.

A Long Road to Financial Close

Enthusiasm should be tempered by the calendar. The AFC plans to launch a fundraising round for the Zambian section in the third quarter of 2026, with financial close not targeted until the fourth quarter of 2027. That leaves a long runway between today's site visits and the first rails being laid, and execution risk — financing, land, cross-border coordination — remains real.

For now, the practical takeaway is direction of travel. Copper and cobalt volumes out of Zambia and the DRC are rising, and the infrastructure to carry them west is steadily de-risking. Logistics operators positioned along the western corridor — in haulage, transloading, bonded storage and port services — have a multi-year window to prepare for a structural shift in where SADC's minerals flow.

About the Author
	Andre Klynsmith Entrepreneur & Technology Enthusiast Andre's expertise spans technology, blockchain, transport, and logistics -- with a passion for innovation and driving positive change across industries. info@laaimylorrie.com | laaimylorrie.com