Zambia Eyes TAZARA and Lobito Rail Upgrades to Move 3 Million Tonnes of Copper
Zambia will need significant investment in railway infrastructure to support its ambitious production and export targets, Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has said.
Musokotwane said the country could not rely on road transport alone to move the volumes of agricultural and mineral commodities it plans to produce.
Zambia is targeting annual production of 10 million tonnes of maize, three million tonnes of copper and three million tonnes of soya beans.
The country also aims to produce one million tonnes each of sugar and wheat, alongside beef exports worth at least US$1 billion.
The Minister said transporting such volumes by road would place excessive pressure on the existing network, making railways essential for moving large quantities of commodities from production areas to domestic and international markets.
He identified the rehabilitation and development of railway infrastructure along the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) and Lobito corridors as important components of Zambia’s plans to expand production and improve export logistics.
The investment in rail infrastructure is also expected to reduce pressure on the country’s road network while providing more efficient options for transporting bulk commodities, particularly copper and agricultural products.
Musokotwane said Government would not be able to finance all the infrastructure required to support the country’s growth ambitions.
Instead, the private sector would increasingly be brought into major infrastructure projects through Public-Private Partnerships.
He said Government’s role would be to establish the appropriate conditions and incentives to attract private investment into infrastructure and productive sectors, including railways.
The Minister also indicated that local investors, including pension funds, could play a greater role in financing productive infrastructure as Zambia seeks to expand its economy.
The push for expanded rail capacity comes as Zambia works to increase copper production to three million tonnes annually and strengthen its position as a major regional mining and logistics hub.
