Zambia’s Copper Ambitions Advance with New Corridor Deal

Zambia is moving closer to its goal of producing 1 million tons of copper annually with the finalization of a new logistics agreement tied to the Lobito Corridor. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has confirmed $500 million in funding to support infrastructure upgrades that will streamline copper exports from Zambia’s North-Western Province through Angola’s Lobito port.

The corridor, which links Zambia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, is expected to:

• Cut transport costs by up to 30%
• Reduce export times from weeks to days
• Improve access to global markets for copper, cobalt, and other critical minerals

The investment aligns with Zambia’s broader strategy to become a regional hub for responsibly sourced copper, especially as demand surges from electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors.