The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) signed an agreement on September 22, 2026, to strengthen power infrastructure along the Lobito Corridor. The agency partnered with Anzana Electric Group Limited (Anzana) on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Week. This collaboration aims to enhance the energy network across Lualaba Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the North-Western province of Zambia. The initiative focuses on improving electricity access and reliability for communities and industries within these critical mineral-rich regions of Africa. The agreement specifically funds a feasibility study designed to expand hydropower generation and upgrade existing electricity distribution networks, marking a significant step in bolstering the region's energy capacity. The USTDA's commitment shows its role in strengthening power infrastructure along this vital corridor, which is considered a strategic logistics route in Central and Southern Africa.
Boosting Energy Access and Supply Chains
The Lobito Corridor facilitates a more direct route for transporting critical minerals such as copper and cobalt to overseas markets via the Port of Lobito in Angola. This strategic route is vital to diversifying America’s critical minerals supply chains. A feasibility study funded by USTDA will evaluate the rehabilitation of existing hydropower assets and the development of new hydropower generation facilities. The study will also assess the expansion of electricity distribution infrastructure in the region. Reliable electricity access presents a significant challenge in both the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia. Mining activities in these countries currently consume the majority of available power, leading to underserved households and local businesses. This project is expected to enable mining companies operating along the Lobito Corridor to decrease their reliance on expensive diesel generation, thereby freeing up existing grid capacity. The USTDA’s feasibility study will comprehensively assess rehabilitating existing hydropower assets, developing new hydropower generation, and expanding electricity distribution infrastructure to meet the growing demand. This initiative is projected to bring new connections to more than half a million homes and businesses throughout the corridor, significantly improving the quality of life and economic opportunities for residents.
Strategic Partnership and U.S. Involvement
The study aims to identify appropriate U.S. Sources of supply and structure the project in a way that attracts necessary financing. This approach is intended to create opportunities for deploying trusted U.S. Equipment and engineering services within the corridor. All USTDA-funded programming is carried out by U.S. Companies. The USTDA-funded study also supports the objectives outlined in the Strategic Partnership Agreement, which was signed by the U.S. And DRC governments in December 2025. Anzana Electric Group Limited, the partner in this initiative, is backed by private American investors and Gridworks Development Partners. Gridworks Development Partners is an investor focused on electricity transmission and distribution in Africa, and it is wholly owned by British International Investment. This collaboration notes a concerted effort to leverage both public and private sector expertise to address critical infrastructure needs in the region.
Voices from the Initiative
The Lobito Corridor represents a strategic logistics route in Central and Southern Africa, which is considered vital for diversifying America's critical minerals supply chains. The agreement between the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and Anzana Electric Group Limited specifically funds a feasibility study aimed at expanding hydropower generation. This study will also focus on upgrading existing electricity distribution networks within the region. The project is designed to improve power reliability for copper and cobalt mining operations, as well as for more than three million residents in the affected areas. The initiative is expected to bring new electricity connections to over half a million homes and businesses throughout the corridor. The enhanced power infrastructure will not only support the burgeoning critical minerals industry but also contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of Lualaba Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the North-Western province of Zambia.