THE government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has invited expressions of interest (EOI) in a project to design, finance, build, equip and operate new facilities to produce rail in the DRC, aiming to avoid the high costs, long lead times and dependence on foreign suppliers that result from importing rail.

According to the EOI notice, new rail will be required for projects to revive and upgrade the DRC’s 5000km network and for major regional integration projects such as the Lobito Corridor. As well as reducing project costs and ensuring supply, local production is expected to create skilled jobs and transfer skills, while promoting local content and strengthening the industrial sovereignty of the DRC.

Three sites have been chosen to form the DRC’s new domestic rail supply chain:

  • extraction and processing of raw materials, such as iron ore, limestone and coal, will be undertaken at Banalia in Tshopo province, an area rich in iron ore and with energy potential
  • the main production unit, including a hot rolling mill to produce UIC 54 and UIC 60 rail, will be located in Kisangani, and
  • machining and quality control will be undertaken at Kinshasa, which will also act as a logistics centre for exports.

The EOI notice says that the complex will be equipped with electric arc furnaces, supplied by a hybrid hydroelectric/solar power plant. Metallurgical laboratories and testing facilities will also be constructed, as well as a technical training and industrial apprenticeship centre.

The project will be implemented under a build-own-operate-transfer model or as a public-private partnership (PPP), involving the government and investors such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the World Bank, Afreximbank, TDB and Exim Bank. Design, construction and operation will be undertaken by a dedicated project company or special-purpose vehicle (SPV).

Expressions of interest must be submitted by March 9 2026. Bidders will be required to submit a concept note setting out their technical approach, financing structure and proposed PPP approach, training and technology transfer plan, and implementation schedule.

The evaluation criteria and their weighting will be as follows:

  • industrial experience: 30%
  • technical approach and innovation: 20%
  • skills transfer/local content: 15%
  • financial capacity: 15%
  • PPP structure/governance: 15%, and
  • environmental sustainability: 5%

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