Kinshasa Launches EOI for Rolling Stock Factory
On 17 October 2025, the Minstry of Transport of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) launched an international Expression of Interest (EOI) with the stated objective to select suitable partnerss to set up a rolling stock company. Two potential sites for the factory have been identified, namely Matadi and Kalemie. The Project is in line with the Government’s policy to promote #industrialization and #RegionalIntegration.
As with many African countries, the rail in DRC dates back to the colonial times and is in dire need of upgrade and exension. Currently, DRC has a network of more than 5,000 kilometers of rail, but the potential is much higher and the present infrastructure is showing signs of ageing due to lack of investment. The Project will be carried under a Public-Private Partnership (#PPP) with a 25-year concession.
The scope of the Project includes, but is not limted to:
- Manufacturing rolling stock, including locomotives as well as passenger and cargo wagons
- Assembly lines for SKD/CKD
- Maintenance, Repairs, and Operations (MRO) Center
- Training Academy
- Other Ancilliary Facilities such as PV farms, water treatment plant, and compressed air workshop.
Interested parties shall submit proposals involving both technical and financial components. Bidders are encouraged to form consortium consisting of rolling stock manufacturers, development finance institutions (DFI) and engineering contractors to offer a full-fledged solution.
Additionally, the bidder must submit a roadmap for #localization. The bidder is welcome to put forward its expectations in return for a share of the Congolese rail market.
Submissions have to reach the Ministry at latest at 3pm (local time Kinshasa) on the 5th of December 2025. Documents must be made available in both paper and electronic formats.