Major investments in railways and regional transport corridors are gathering pace across Africa as governments and financiers seek to cut logistics costs, improve export efficiency and strengthen the continent’s role in global mineral supply chains.
The latest development is a €312 million financing agreement involving Proparco, the International Finance Corporation and Société d’Exploitation du Transgabonais to support the second phase of Gabon’s Railway Modernization and Safety Program.
Announced in July, the financing will accelerate rehabilitation of the 648-km Transgabonais railway, which links the Atlantic port of Owendo with Franceville in eastern Gabon.
The project is expected to improve the movement of manganese and other minerals to regional and international markets as Gabon seeks to increase mining’s contribution to gross domestic product to 25% by 2030 from about 6%.
The modernization programme has already delivered the renewal of 457 km of track with concrete sleepers and the upgrading of 186 km with new 60-kg rails.
The investment underscores the growing importance of transport infrastructure to Africa’s mining ambitions, particularly in reducing freight costs, improving railway safety and increasing the reliability of mineral exports.
The issue will be a key focus at African Mining Week 2026, scheduled for 14-16 October 2026 in Cape Town.
A panel titled “Regional Connectivity: Financing Africa’s Mineral Infrastructure” is expected to bring together representatives from the Uganda Chamber of Minerals and Energy, Zambia Chamber of Mines, Africa Finance Corporation, Transnet Freight Rail and the Trade and Development Bank.
The discussions are expected to focus on financing models, railway and port modernization, regional integration and infrastructure needs for Africa’s next phase of mining growth.
Across the continent, several major transport projects are being developed to support mining and regional trade.
The USD753 million Lobito Corridor Railway Project recently reached financial close with financing from the U.S. Development Finance Corporation and the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
The project involves the rehabilitation, modernization and long-term operation of the 1,300-km Benguela Railway, which links Angola’s Port of Lobito with the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A planned extension into Zambia is expected to provide a faster export route for minerals including Angola’s diamonds, emerging rare earth resources in the region, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s copper, cobalt and tin, and Zambia’s copper.
In East Africa, the USD1.4 billion revitalization of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority is expected to strengthen the strategic connection between Tanzania’s Port of Dar es Salaam and Zambia’s Copperbelt.
The project aims to lower transport costs and increase export capacity for Zambia’s copper as well as Tanzania’s graphite and rare earth industries.
West Africa is also advancing regional connectivity through the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor.
The African Development Bank and the Economic Community of West African States concluded a joint multi-country financing mission in April, moving the 1,028-km corridor into its investment phase after the completion of feasibility studies.
The corridor connects Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria and is centred on a six-lane highway. It is expected to boost cross-border trade and regional logistics while supporting mineral supply chains and investment in gold, lithium and other critical minerals.
In Guinea, authorities have approved the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for Phase One of the USD1.8 billion Liberty Corridor transport project, paving the way for rail and logistics infrastructure connecting Guinea and Liberia.
The project is expected to support mineral exports from the Simandou iron ore complex, the Kon Kweni project and Liberian iron ore operations.
The growing pipeline of transport investments reflects a broader push to address one of Africa’s longstanding constraints to mining development: inadequate and costly logistics infrastructure.
As railways, ports and cross-border corridors are upgraded, governments and investors are seeking to create more efficient routes from mineral-producing regions to international markets.
African Mining Week 2026 is expected to provide a platform for governments, financiers and mining companies to examine partnerships and financing mechanisms for the next generation of Africa’s mineral infrastructure.
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