Its role Operator
Lobito Atlantic Railway SA (LAR) operates the Benguela railway corridor under a 30-year concession awarded by the Angolan government. The company manages approximately 1,289 km of track in Angola from the Port of Lobito to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, along with the associated mineral terminal at Lobito. It forms a joint venture between Trafigura, Mota-Engil, and Vecturis, and has been operational since early 2024.
LAR provides rail transport services primarily for mining commodities such as copper and cobalt from the DRC Copperbelt to international markets. The route offers reduced transit times compared to alternative paths. The company has secured financing including USD 753 million from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. Freight volumes have increased steadily, with over 200,000 tonnes transported in 2025.
chemXplore tracks 1 project involving LAR, of which one is active.
Demand diversification, new industries and above‑ground constraints are driving cross‑border metals trade; Trafigura has deployed $7bn and invested in power, rail, storage and processing.
Framework to deliver Congolese cobalt hydroxide to the U.S., targeting up to ~40% of projected U.S. cobalt demand, using the Lobito Atlantic Railway and a new Arizona refinery; construction 2027–2029.
First shipment of low‑carbon copper anodes from the DRC routed via the Lobito Atlantic Railway to Europe, cutting inland transit to seven days.
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