Angola Secures €665 Million for Luena-Saurimo Railway Linking Mining Regions to Lobito Corridor
Angola has authorised financing of up to €665 million to support construction of the 260-kilometre Luena-Saurimo railway line, a major infrastructure project designed to strengthen rail connectivity between eastern Angola and the Benguela Railway and Lobito Corridor.
The financing is backed by three European export credit agencies UK Export Finance (UKEF), Poland’s KUKE and Dutch ECA Atradius with HSBC Bank arranging the financing package. A separate facility will cover part of the project’s construction down payment.
The new railway will connect Luena in Moxico Province with Saurimo in Lunda Sul, providing a more efficient transport route for passengers and freight between Angola’s interior and the country’s western trade corridors.
Construction of the line began in early 2026 and is expected to take approximately 60 months.
The project includes 11 bridges, eight railway stations and two strategic junctions.
The railway is expected to have significant economic implications for eastern Angola, particularly for the mining sector.
By improving access to rail infrastructure, the project could facilitate the movement of minerals and other commodities towards the Port of Lobito, strengthening the Lobito Corridor’s role as a regional trade and logistics route.
The development also forms part of Angola’s broader strategy to expand its rail network, improve domestic connectivity and reduce reliance on road transport for the movement of bulk cargo.
For the mining industry, the Luena-Saurimo connection could provide an important new logistics option, particularly as exploration and mining activity expands across Lunda Sul, Lunda Norte and neighbouring regions.
