NorthWest Rail represents one of Africa's newest and most ambitious railway transportation projects.
The importance of NWR was acknowledged regionally and internationally. It was prioritised in the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan, and in July 2014, Transport Africa named NWR the Best Infrastructure Project.
On 31 August 2015, the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), through the SADC Project Preparation and Development Facility (PPDF), approved a project preparation grant of USD 3.5 million for Phase Two of the North West Rail (NWR) project in Zambia.
The funding was allocated to support a comprehensive Market and Technical Study, which formed a critical step in advancing the development of the railway—an integral part of the Lobito Corridor.
The PPDF Steering Committee’s decision was ratified by the DBSA Board of Trustees. The DBSA Secretariat was authorised to begin negotiations for a Facility Agreement under its standard terms and conditions.
In addition to the grant, DBSA committed a further USD 1.5 million to the study, reinforcing its strategic interest in the NWR project. Preparations began shortly afterwards to appoint consultants to deliver the next phase of work.
This funding milestone reflected growing confidence in the long-term value of the North West Rail and its potential to strengthen regional trade and connectivity across the Lobito Corridor.
On 6 September 2017, the Cabinet of the Republic of Zambia approved, in principle, a recommendation from the Ministers of Transport and Communications and of Finance for the government and the people of Zambia to acquire a 30% shareholding in NWR Company Limited. This decision formally established a public-private partnership between the Zambian government and North West Rail for the construction, establishment and operation of the railway, signalling strong national commitment to the corridor’s success.
Officials from Africa Finance Corporation met with Enoch Kavindele and toured the proposed route of the North-West Rail Project. Following the visit, on 5 April 2022, Africa Finance Corporation confirmed it had received approval to provide up to 3 million US dollars in financing for the project's development activities, subject to agreement on heads of terms.
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