Chinese Premier Li Qiang began a two-day visit to Zambia on Wednesday, focusing on a $1.4 billion refurbishment of the Tazara railway line, a project intended to bolster China’s access to critical minerals sourced from the region. The upgrade, a deal initially struck in September with Tanzania and Zambia, will modernize the 1,860-kilometer rail track, locomotives, passenger coaches and wagons, according to statements from Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.
The Tazara railway, originally constructed in the 1970s by China, Zambia, and Tanzania, was conceived as a means to circumvent transport links through Rhodesia and South Africa, both then governed by white minority regimes. Today, the line is crucial for moving copper and cobalt from Zambian mines to the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam for export. China’s renewed investment reflects the growing strategic importance of railways in securing access to critical minerals, essential components in the production of electronic devices.
Premier Li’s visit comes as China continues to expand its economic influence in Africa. Zambia is a major global producer of copper, and the refurbishment of Tazara is expected to significantly improve the efficiency of mineral transport. The project is being undertaken by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, a state-owned enterprise.
The investment in Tazara is occurring alongside a separate, U.S.-backed initiative, the Lobito Corridor project. That project aims to upgrade railway lines connecting Angola’s Atlantic coast to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, presenting a potential alternative route for critical mineral exports. The Lobito Corridor and the Tazara refurbishment represent competing infrastructure projects vying for influence over the flow of resources from Central Africa.
The $1.4 billion agreement elevates a 2024 memorandum of understanding into a concrete program, positioning Tazara as a key artery for copper exports. The railway’s modernization is expected to facilitate increased trade and economic cooperation between the three nations.
Premier Li is scheduled to meet with President Hichilema on Thursday, where documents formalizing the Tazara upgrade are expected to be signed. No details have been released regarding potential further agreements or discussions beyond the railway project.
