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African infrastructure investment accelerates mineral trade growth
Africa is seeing a surge in infrastructure investment aimed at enhancing mineral supply chains and regional trade. In Gabon, Proparco, the IFC, and SETRAG have secured a 312 million euro agreement to modernize the 648-kilometer Transgabonais railway. This project is central to Gabon's goal of increasing the mining sector's contribution to its GDP from 6% to 25% by 2030.
Major regional corridors are also advancing. The Lobito Corridor, supported by 753 million dollars in financing from the US DFC and the Development Bank of Southern Africa, is transforming mineral trade by connecting the Copperbelt to Angola's Atlantic coast. Similarly, a 1.4 billion dollar plan aims to revitalize the TAZARA railway to improve connectivity between Tanzania and Zambia. In West Africa, the Abidjan-Lagos corridor has moved into the investment phase following a multi-country study.
These developments coincide with significant foreign interest, including over 168 billion dollars in announced projects from UAE entities since 2017, spanning ports, mines, and renewable energy. As these transport networks expand, they are expected to reduce logistics costs and strengthen Africa's position in the global supply chain for critical minerals like copper, cobalt, and manganese.
Entities
African Continental Free Trade Area · African Mining Week · DP World · International Finance Corporation · Lekki Deep Sea Port · Lobito Atlantic Railway Consortium · Lobito Corridor · Proparco · SETRAG · Tanger Med · United Arab Emirates · United States International Development Finance Corporation
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A 1.4 billion dollar revitalization plan is underway for the TAZARA railway. cn.dailyeconomic.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Gabon aims to increase the mining sector's share of GDP from approximately 6% to 25% by 2030. cn.dailyeconomic.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The African Development Bank and ECOWAS completed a financing study for the Abidjan-Lagos corridor in April 2026. cn.dailyeconomic.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The 753 million dollar Lobito Corridor railway project has reached financial close. cn.dailyeconomic.com · www.freightnews.co.za
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Proparco, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Gabon's SETRAG signed a 312 million euro financing agreement. cn.dailyeconomic.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The financing will support the second phase of the Gabon railway modernization and security program. cn.dailyeconomic.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The project aims to increase the transport capacity of manganese and other minerals to regional and international markets. cn.dailyeconomic.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Lobito Corridor project is financed by the US International Development Finance Corporation and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. cn.dailyeconomic.com · www.freightnews.co.za