Chinese miners back $1.2 billion African rail upgrade amid United States-China rivalry
The TAZARA facelift comes as Washington accelerates efforts to counter China’s dominance in African critical minerals
THURSDAY April 9, 2026
By Adam Ihucha
The Tranquillity News Correspondent, Zambia
Chinese mining and shipping companies are joining a $1.24 billion project to modernise the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) linking Zambia’s copper belt to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, highlighting Beijing’s growing commercial presence in Africa.
CMOC Group Ltd. and Zijin Mining Group Co. will partner with state-owned China Civil Engineering Construction Corp. (CCECC) to upgrade the 1,860-kilometre (1,156-mile) line.
CCECC will hold an 80 per cent stake, while Jiayou International Logistics, COSCO Shipping, and units of CMOC and Zijin will each take 5 per cent, Jiayou said. Jiayou will invest $62.2 million.
The TAZARA upgrade comes as Washington accelerates efforts to counter China’s dominance in African critical minerals.
In December, the U.S. signed a bilateral minerals deal with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, giving American companies preferential access to copper and cobalt—key for electric vehicles and batteries.
TAZARA, built in the 1970s with Chinese support under Mao Zedong, will compete with the Lobito Corridor, a U.S. and EU-backed railway connecting the same copper-rich region to Angola’s Atlantic coast.
Analysts say both projects exemplify the intensifying strategic contest over Africa’s mining sector.
Chinese firms dominate Congo’s mineral exports, the world’s No. 2 copper producer and top cobalt source, while Western companies, including Canada’s First Quantum Minerals and Barrick Mining, focus on Zambia.
The corridors highlight a geographic division in mining influence across central Africa.
Tanzania and Zambia have granted CCECC a 30-year concession to operate TAZARA.
The refurbished line aims to ease road congestion and reduce long truck hauls currently moving minerals to ports.
Partners will jointly manage freight services, locomotives, and containers after the upgrade, pending China’s regulatory approvals.
The project signals a shift in China’s Belt and Road Initiative toward partnerships with private firms on commercial terms.
COSCO, China’s largest container line, brings logistics capacity, while Jiayou operates major trucking and road concessions in Zambia, with Zijin holding a 17.5 per cent stake.
Washington’s Congo partnership underlines the strategic role of the Lobito Corridor in securing mineral exports to the U.S. and allies.
Analysts say the two corridors could reshape global copper and cobalt flows amid rising demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies.
With both corridors poised to operate simultaneously, Africa’s copper-rich heartland is emerging as a new battleground for industrial-era influence between the world’s two largest economiesΩ
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Adam Ihucha is a prominent Tanzanian journalist and author recognized for his extensive coverage of tourism, wildlife conservation, and economic issues in East Africa. Based in Arusha, he serves as a senior correspondent for The Tranquility News and is a long-time contributor to eTurboNews (eTN), where he provides global insights into Tanzania's travel industry.
Throughout his career, Ihucha has written for several major publications, including The Guardian (Tanzania) and The EastAfrican. His work frequently highlights the intersection of environmental conservation and economic development, covering critical topics such as anti-poaching initiatives, national park management, and regional trade within the East African Community. His journalism is noted for its advocacy for sustainable tourism and its role in documenting the achievements of Tanzania's tourism sector.
Email contact: ihucha@tranquilitynews.com
