Connecting Zambia's Copperbelt to the Lobito Corridor

 The first phase of construction will span approximately 295km, linking Chingola to Solwezi, and then extending to Lumwana and Kalumbila, home to some of Africa’s largest and most productive copper mines, including First Quantum’s Trident project. 

This initial phase will support two main freight routes: transporting copper concentrate to the new Kansanshi smelter and moving refined copper south via the North–South Corridor to markets in South Africa and beyond. 

A second 300km phase is planned to extend the line from Kalumbila to Jimbe, where it will connect with Angola’s Benguela Railway. This will create a new export corridor through Lobito and facilitate imports such as fuel—an essential input for Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC’s) mining sectors.

This phase will also offer an alternative to the ageing Dar es Salaam pipeline, providing a more resilient and diversified supply route for oil and other commodities.

NWR Ltd has carried out an initial assessment on the feasibility of building a railway from Lumwana Town north to Sakabinda, on the Zambia–DR Congo border. 

From there, the line would continue to Kolwezi and connect with the existing railway serving the Kamoa Mine, located west of the town.

 On 31 August 2015, the Development Bank of Southern Africa approved a US$3.5 million grant to support a Market and Technical Study for Phase Two of Zambia’s North West Rail project. An additional US$1.5 million was committed to the study, reflecting DBSA’s strategic backing.

The funding, provided through the SADC Project Preparation and Development Facility, aimed to advance the railway’s role within the Lobito Corridor. Preparations to appoint consultants followed soon after, signalling growing confidence in the project's regional trade and connectivity potential.

 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 US$ 3 million in financing for the project's development activities, subject to agreement on heads of terms.