30 October 2026 — An international team is being assembled to deliver Lot 1B of the Lobito Railway Project, the Zambian section of an 831 km greenfield east–west freight corridor linking Angola’s Atlantic port of Lobito with mining districts in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project is developed and sponsored by Africa Finance Corporation and is reported by Global Construction Review. A joint venture team to execute the work is subject to technical, commercial and legal negotiations set to begin in November 2026, the report said. Webuild issued a press release shared with the reporting outlet saying the project will enable Italy’s supply chain to operate in Africa.
Project scope for Lot 1B, as reported, includes engineering, procurement and construction in areas lacking large-scale infrastructure; 22 bridges and viaducts; eight stations; and three maintenance depots designed to support heavy freight traffic volumes. The corridor is supported by the Italian Government’s Mattei Plan for Africa and is intended to cut transit time from the Copperbelt to international markets from 16 to seven days when completed. Contract values, owner identity for Lot 1B, detailed contractor composition, and financing specifics are not publicly disclosed in the cited report.
Lead
30 October 2026 — Global Construction Review reported that an international team is being formed to deliver Lot 1B of the Lobito Railway Project, the Zambian portion of an 831 km greenfield freight railway connecting Zambia and Angola. The project is developed and sponsored by Africa Finance Corporation. A joint venture team remains subject to technical, commercial and legal negotiations scheduled to begin in November 2026. Webuild said in a press release shared with the reporting outlet that the project will allow Italy’s supply chain to operate in Africa.
Project facts
Project name: Lobito Railway Project — Lot 1B (Zambian portion)
Location: Zambia (Zambian portion of an 831 km greenfield railway between Zambia and Angola); corridor links Lobito port (Angola) to mining districts in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.
Owner: Not publicly disclosed
Developer / Sponsor: Africa Finance Corporation (reported)
Timing: Joint venture technical, commercial and legal negotiations due to begin November 2026 (reported)
Scope: Engineering, procurement and construction work in regions lacking large-scale infrastructure; 22 bridges and viaducts; eight stations; three maintenance depots; infrastructure designed to support heavy freight traffic volumes (reported)
Technical parameters: 831 km greenfield railway across Zambia and Angola (project-wide); heavy freight capability (reported)
Value: Not publicly disclosed
Financing: Not publicly disclosed
Source confidence: Secondary media reporting (Global Construction Review) quoting a Webuild press release and project details.
Participants and responsibilities
Owner: Not publicly disclosed in the cited report.
Developer / Sponsor: Africa Finance Corporation — identified by the report as developing and sponsoring the project; source: Global Construction Review (secondary media).
Contractor / Joint venture: A joint venture team is reported to be being formed; the composition and roles are subject to technical, commercial and legal negotiations scheduled to begin November 2026. The report does not disclose specific contractors, contract awards, or contract values.
Company providing public statement: Webuild — the company said in a press release (shared with the reporting outlet) that the project will allow Italy’s supply chain to operate in Africa. The press release was referenced by the reporting outlet; Webuild is not identified in the article as an awarded contractor for Lot 1B.
Other participants: Not publicly disclosed.
Source basis: All participant identifications and responsibilities are taken from the Global Construction Review article and the Webuild press release as referenced in that article; no first-party contract announcement or government filing is provided in the cited material.
Contractor overview
No awarded contractors or contract values are listed in the cited reporting. The only firm named in the source material is Webuild, which provided a press release referenced by the report; the company is not identified as a contractor for Lot 1B in the article. The joint venture team tasked with delivery is described as being under negotiation with milestones to begin in November 2026. Source confidence: secondary media reporting; contractor roles and responsibilities remain Not publicly disclosed.
Commercial context
The Lobito Corridor is presented in the reported material as an east–west trade route intended to connect Angola’s Atlantic port of Lobito with mining districts in the DRC and Zambia and to reduce transit time from the Copperbelt to international markets from 16 to seven days when completed. The project is reported to be supported by the Italian Government’s Mattei Plan for Africa. The cited reporting indicates that procurement and contracting for Lot 1B have not been finalised publicly: a joint venture team is still subject to negotiations and contract values, owner identity for Lot 1B and financing structures are Not publicly disclosed in the source. Webuild’s press release, as referenced by the report, frames the project in terms of enabling Italian supply‑chain participation, but the article does not document awarded contracts or financial close.
Sources
https://www.globalconstructionreview.com/international-team-to-build-zambia-freight-corridor/ — Global Construction Review (secondary media report referencing a Webuild press release).
Disclosure
This RailZoom Intelligence Brief is an original synthesis based on the cited public source. Details not confirmed by a first-party announcement are identified as reported information. For overseas project development or industry intelligence cooperation, contact RailZoom.
