The Democratic Republic of Congo has approved a partnership with Portugal’s Mota-Engil SGPS to rebuild a major railway link that will help move copper and cobalt from the country’s mining regions to global markets.

The deal places Congo’s section of the Lobito Corridor at the centre of growing efforts to improve Africa’s critical minerals supply chains. The railway is expected to make mineral exports faster and more efficient by connecting the Copperbelt to Angola’s Atlantic coast.

The project comes as the United States, China and other global economies compete for access to Africa’s rich deposits of copper and cobalt, two minerals considered important for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and advanced manufacturing.

Congo’s Cabinet approved the public-private partnership on July 10, according to government meeting minutes broadcast on state television. Officials have not released details on the value of the contract or the timeline for completing the rehabilitation work.

Lobito Corridor set for major upgrade

The Congolese section of the Lobito Corridor runs through important mining areas, including Kolwezi, Tenke and Lubumbashi. Once completed, the railway upgrade is expected to provide a faster export route through Angola’s Port of Lobito.

Mota-Engil is already involved in operating the Angolan section of the corridor through a consortium with Trafigura Group. The company’s existing role gives it experience managing infrastructure linked to regional mineral exports.

The project has received support from the United States, which sees the Lobito Corridor as a way to diversify critical mineral supply chains.

In December, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation signed a letter of interest for up to $1 billion to support Mota-Engil’s plans to repair and manage the railway.

Global race for copper and cobalt

Congo is the world’s second-largest copper producer and the biggest supplier of cobalt, a mineral used in electric vehicle batteries and other clean energy technologies.

Chinese mining companies, including CMOC Group and Zijin Mining Group, currently dominate much of the country’s copper and cobalt production.

China is also investing $1.4 billion to upgrade the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, creating another export route for Zambia’s copper industry through the Port of Dar es Salaam.

Mota-Engil SGPS is one of Portugal’s largest engineering and construction companies, with operations across Africa, Europe and Latin America.

The company has projects in transport, mining and industrial infrastructure and operates in more than 20 countries.

The rehabilitation of Congo’s railway is expected to improve mineral transport links and strengthen trade connections between Central Africa and global markets. The project will also shape how mining companies move copper and cobalt exports in the years ahead.