• AFC summit showcases transport and energy projects across Africa
• Countries seek private capital to finance major infrastructure plans
• Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and others highlight flagship projects

Several African countries presented a pipeline of infrastructure projects worth about $46 billion on April 23 in Nairobi, during the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) summit. The goal is to attract private investment into transport and energy sectors.

The summit highlighted large-scale projects—including railways, airports, and renewable energy—valued at around $45.8 billion. The AFC said it is already mobilizing $2 billion from commercial banks and development institutions to support early-stage financing.

Kenya, the host country, unveiled its National Infrastructure Fund, a platform aimed at raising $38.7 billion to co-finance priority projects. These include the modernization of Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, a $1.5 billion project designed to expand capacity to 22 million passengers by 2045.

Focus on regional integration

Regional connectivity remains a central theme, with several major rail projects presented. Tanzania promoted its $11.8 billion Central Corridor, an electrified rail line linking the port of Dar es Salaam to Kigali, with planned extensions to Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Zambia highlighted the $1.3 billion Zambia-Lobito rail corridor, intended to connect its copper belt to Angola’s Atlantic port of Lobito. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the MetroKin project involves a $876 million electric urban rail line linking central Kinshasa to N’djili airport.

Energy transition projects

Energy projects also featured prominently. Ghana presented its Volta Economic Corridor, a $650 million project combining 1.5 gigawatts of solar generation with battery storage.

Ethiopia is seeking funding for two solar plants worth $277 million and a 150 MW wind farm in Adigala, while Uganda outlined the $132 million Angololo multipurpose dam project for irrigation and hydropower along its border with Kenya.

Fiacre E. Kakpo