Lobito Atlantic Railway Restarts DRC Copper Shipments Following Flood Damage Repairs
Lobito Corridor Resumes DRC Copper Exports After Flood Repairs Restore Rail Link
Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) has received its first copper shipment from the Democratic Republic of Congo since restoring a flood-damaged section of the Lobito Corridor, reopening a critical export route for Central African minerals.
The rail link between the Port of Lobito and Huambo had been closed for approximately two months after severe flooding damaged infrastructure along the route.
Following emergency repair works, full rail operations have now resumed, according to a statement issued by LAR on June 13.
“The arrival of this first international train from the DRC demonstrates the resilience of our operation and the extraordinary commitment of our teams,” said LAR Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Fournier.
During the disruption, the railway operator implemented contingency measures to maintain cargo flows, transferring freight between trains and trucks on either side of the damaged section.
The Lobito Corridor serves as a vital export route for copper and cobalt produced in the DRC, linking Central Africa’s mining regions to the Atlantic coast.
The corridor is also a key component of Western-backed efforts to strengthen critical minerals supply chains and improve regional transport infrastructure.
The resumption of international rail traffic is expected to support more efficient mineral exports and reinforce the corridor’s role as a strategic trade route for the region.
