Lobito Atlantic Railway resumes freight traffic on the Lobito corridor with first copper train from the DRC

Lobito, 15 June 2026 – Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) has received the first international copper train from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the reopening of the railway section between Lobito and Huambo. Its arrival marks the resumption of freight traffic along the Lobito Corridor.

Rail traffic on this section was interrupted for two months because of the severe floods that affected Benguela Province in April 2026. Emergency rehabilitation works successfully restored the railway connection between Lobito and Huambo under safe operating conditions.

Throughout the interruption, freight and passenger services between Huambo and Luau remained fully operational across more than 1,000 kilometers of railway infrastructure.

“The arrival of this first international train from the DRC demonstrates the resilience of our operations and the extraordinary commitment of our teams. In just a few weeks, we recovered critical infrastructure and restored the railway connection, reaffirming the strategic importance of the Lobito Corridor for Angola and the wider region,” said Nicholas Fournier, CEO of Lobito Atlantic Railway.

During the interruption, LAR maintained cargo flows through a multimodal contingency solution operated from the Dango Multimodal Platform, ensuring the continuity of domestic and international logistics operations.

The recovery programme is now entering a second phase, including engineering studies aimed at identifying measures to further strengthen the resilience of the railway infrastructure against future extreme weather events.

The resumption of freight traffic from the DRC reinforces the role of the Lobito Corridor as a strategic gateway for regional trade and for connecting Angola with markets across the interior of Southern Africa.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:
Dina Cortinhas | +244 912 888 159 | dcortinhas@kreab.com
Or media@trafigura.com

Notes to Editors

• Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) is an Angolan railway operator with an independent and highly experienced management team specialising in railway infrastructure.
• Under a 30-year concession agreement, LAR is responsible for the modernisation, maintenance and operation of the 1,300-kilometre railway line connecting the Port of Lobito to Luau, on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• LAR also operates the Lobito Port Mineral Terminal, which is directly connected to the railway line, enabling faster and more efficient services through one of the least congested ports on the Atlantic coast.
• The company provides efficient rail transport services to domestic and international customers, including mining companies, private operators, logistics service providers and regional operators, offering direct access to global markets.
• LAR is owned by Lobito Atlantic Holdings (LAH), a consortium comprising the European companies Trafigura, Mota-Engil and Vecturis.