EGC and Trafigura are shipping copper and cobalt to the global market via the Lobito Atlantic railway

February 2026

Geneva, 9 February 2026 — Entreprise Générale du Cobalt (“EGC”) and Trafigura have agreed the first shipment of copper and cobalt to global markets via the Lobito Atlantic railway (“LAR”), marking a key step in the development of a fast and efficient mineral supply chain from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (“DRC”).

The use of LAR underlines the strategic importance of the railway in connecting the DRC’s mineral resources to customers worldwide.

The Lobito transatlantic railway line comprises 1,300 kilometres of track linking the deep-water port of Lobito on the Angolan Atlantic coast to the Congolese border at Luau, with a 450-kilometre extension to Kolwezi in the heart of the Congolese Copperbelt. This line offers the shortest route between Kolwezi and an African port, reducing overland transit time to approximately seven days.

“This agreement demonstrates that progress towards ethical, traceable and transparent large-scale artisanal cobalt and copper supply is both possible and sustainable, thereby contributing to the prosperity of the Congolese people, thanks to the bold reforms led by ARECOMS and the Congolese government, through the Ministry of Mines. We are delighted that the first copper shipment is being sent to customers in the United States, thereby realising the U.S.-DRC strategic partnership agreement as envisaged by the Congolese government, with the support of Gécamines and FOMIN,” said Eric Kalala, Director General of EGC.

“We are delighted to collaborate with EGC to facilitate the shipment of responsibly sourced copper and cobalt to global markets via the most efficient transport route from the DRC Copperbelt. This underlines the importance of strong partnerships between producers and traders to strengthen the resilience of global critical metals and minerals supply,” said Franck Rogozin, Metals and Minerals Director for Africa at Trafigura.

“LAR is a true regional asset, open to all users, and a catalyst for positioning Angola and the DRC as key players in the supply of the metals and minerals needed for decarbonisation, digitalisation and industrialisation,” said Nicholas Fournier, Director General of LAR.

Exclusively owned by its shareholders, Trafigura, Mota-Engil and Vecturis, LAR recently secured a $753 million loan financing from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to support the continued rehabilitation and expansion of the railway.

Under an existing agreement, Trafigura markets the cobalt supplied by EGC, the public entity responsible for purchasing cobalt from artisanal producers in the DRC.

By the Editorial Team with EGC and Trafigura