China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) has committed over $1.4 billion to modernize the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA), a vital transport link for Zambia’s copper exports to Tanzania’s largest port.
TAZARA plays a crucial role in exporting copper and cobalt from Central Africa while offering an alternative route to South Africa’s congested ports. However, years of neglect have left the railway in need of urgent repairs.
Negotiations for a 30-year concession with CCECC are still in progress, according to Bruno Ching’andu, Managing Director of TAZARA Authority.
“The decision to grant a concession follows an in-depth evaluation of TAZARA’s challenges, which necessitated urgent intervention,” Ching’andu stated.
Investment Breakdown
- $1 billion will go toward rehabilitating TAZARA’s railway tracks.
- $400 million will be used to acquire 32 new locomotives and 762 wagons.
Officials believe the investment will boost trade, enhance logistics for mining operations, and lower transportation costs for businesses and passengers.
The modernization project comes as the United States supports a rival corridor—the Lobito Corridor, which centers around an Angolan port for mineral exports.
Originally built in the 1970s with funding from Mao Zedong’s China, the 1,860-kilometer (1,160-mile) TAZARA railway is now undergoing its most significant upgrade in decades following a 2023 memorandum of understanding between China, Tanzania, and Zambia.
