Mota-Engil signs 30-year railway concession in DRC

Mota-Engil África has signed a 30-year concession agreement with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to finance, rehabilitate, modernize, operate, and maintain the Dilolo-Sakania railway line. This infrastructure is a critical component of the Lobito Corridor, designed to connect Congolese mining regions to the Port of Lobito in Angola and international markets.

The concession covers approximately 1,037 kilometers, spanning from Dilolo on the Angolan border to Sakania near the Zambian border, passing through key economic zones such as Kolwezi, Tenke, and Lubumbashi. The project aims to provide an alternative route for exporting minerals, liquids, gases, and other goods from Southern Africa.

Mota-Engil estimates the investment will be approximately $1.8 billion over the 30-year term. However, DRC authorities have reported different figures, citing an extension of 1,004.5 kilometers and an indicative investment of nearly $1.258 billion. The discrepancy between the company's and the government's figures has not yet been publicly clarified.