Biden's New Rail Line Plans Revealed on Map

June 13, 2024 June 17, 2024

Editorial Staff

The Facts -

- The US-supported Lobito Atlantic Railway Corridor will improve transportation of mined metals in Africa.

- The corridor will connect Lobito Port in Angola through Zambia to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and expand into Tanzania.

- Once complete, the corridor will enable additional investment in agribusiness, digital infrastructure, and access to clean power.

The Lobito Atlantic Railway Corridor: A New Rail Line in Africa

The US-backed Lobito Atlantic Railway Corridor is set to enhance Africa's infrastructure and mined metals transportation. A map from Newsweek reveals the rail will connect two oceans via a route through four African countries.

Alongside other global rail projects like the Brightline West all-electric railway in the US and Russia's first high-speed passenger railway, the Lobito Atlantic Railway Corridor promises significant improvements to global transportation networks.

During the 2023 G7 Summit, President Joe Biden announced the US' intention to invest $250 million in the Lobito Atlantic Railway Corridor. This project will establish a rail route from Lobito Port in Angola, through Zambia, to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with future expansions into Tanzania.

Part of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI), the project is a flagship initiative of the G7, an intergovernmental economic forum, and includes seven nations: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US.

During the 2024 G7 Summit, Biden highlighted PGI progress, including Italy's commitment of $320 million and the UK's contribution for geological surveying along the corridor.

Upon completion, the Lobito Atlantic Railway Corridor will facilitate agribusiness investment, digital infrastructure, and expand access to clean power. According to the White House, the corridor will also create jobs and improve lives as it connects the continent to the Indian Ocean.

Furthermore, the corridor will streamline the export of mined products like cobalt, copper, and lithium, essential for electric vehicle battery production and wind turbines, by redirecting them to a port in Angola, thus improving efficiency and cutting costs, as per a 2023 WRAL report.