China’s CCECC to invest $1.4b in Tanzania-Zambia railway upgrade

The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) will invest $1.4 billion under a 30-year concession to upgrade the Tanzania-Zambia railway (TAZARA), the line’s operator announced Thursday.

TAZARA serves as a crucial export route for central Africa’s copper, offering an alternative to congestion in South Africa. The decision follows years of challenges requiring urgent intervention, said TAZARA Authority CEO Bruno Ching’andu.

China’s commitment to reviving the decades-old railway comes as the U.S. backs the rival Lobito Corridor, intensifying competition over Africa’s critical minerals.

Attribution: Reuters

Subediting: M. S. Salama