FinancialU.S. DFC

DFC signs $553m loan agreement for the Lobito Atlantic Railway

Summary

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) signed a $553 million loan agreement for the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) in Angola on December 17, 2025. The financing, provided alongside the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA), will support rehabilitation and operation of a brownfield mineral port in Lobito and approximately 1,300 kilometers of rail line connecting Lobito port to Luau on the Angolan border. The investment is expected to increase Lobito's transportation capacity to 4.6 million metric tons and reduce critical mineral transportation costs by up to 30 percent, while facilitating regional trade and access to mineral-rich regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.

Financing

$553m DFC direct loan

Location

Angola (Lobito port to Luau border region); serving Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia

Parties

U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA)Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR)TrafiguraMota EngilGovernment of AngolaMinistry of Transport Angola

Key dates

December 17, 2025DFC and DBSA signed loan agreement for Lobito Atlantic Railway financial close

Notable terms

Rehabilitation of brownfield mineral port in Lobito
Rehabilitation of approximately 1,300-kilometer brownfield rail line
Expected increase in transportation capacity to 4.6 million metric tons
Expected reduction in critical mineral transportation costs by up to 30 percent
Support for regional trade and connectivity
Access to mineral-rich regions of DRC and Zambia

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Related project: Lobito Atlantic Railway concession