Lobito Corridor and TAZARA Railway: Critical Mineral Supply Chains and Great Power Competition in Africa

Key takeaways

• Railways, particularly the Lobito Corridor and the Tanzania–Zambia Railway, have regained strategic importance as they connect the Copperbelt to the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

• Transport infrastructure has become a key instrument of international influence and geopolitical power.

• Global competition driven by control over routes bringing critical minerals to world markets allows African countries to leverage this rivalry to attract investment and development.

Why do railways matter again?

Geopolitical debate increasingly focuses on maritime chokepoints such as Hormuz, Malacca, and Bab el-Mandeb, but does this perspective provide a comprehensive picture? When the scope of analysis is broadened, the answer is no. In the current context of intensifying global competition, railway infrastructure has regained strategic importance, as demonstrated by Sub-Saharan Africa. Two examples are the Lobito Corridor and the Tanzania–Zambia Railway (TAZARA). The former links the Atlantic port of Lobito in Angola to Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), while the latter connects Kapiri Mposhi to the port of Dar es Salaam. Both are of considerable significance, as they act as conduits for the energy transition, connecting the Copperbelt mining region to the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and supporting the growing demand for critical minerals (CMs). This strategic value is also reflected in the development of diversified supply chains within an African context that increasingly illustrates the competition between the United States (US) and the European Union (EU), and China.

The critical minerals chessboard

Angola, the DRC, Zambia, and Tanzania sit at the centre of a chessboard governed by mineral diplomacy, considered “a central tool for geoeconomic actors” such as the US and EU to secure access to CMs through strategic agreements and investments. CMs are key resources for economic development, national security, and electronics, including data centres and artificial intelligence infrastructure. The geographical distribution of resources explains their attractiveness. Angola is rich in several mineral resources, such as manganese, while the DRC holds the majority of the world’s cobalt reserves. In addition, both the DRC and Zambia’s Copperbelt host highly concentrated copper deposits (around 2.5% Cu, compared with a global average of 1.2% Cu). Finally, Tanzania benefits from a subsoil rich in rare earth elements (REEs), graphite, and nickel.

From minerals to infrastructure: TAZARA and Lobito

Although the subsoil reveals a strong presence of CMs, their extraction and commercialisation depend on the availability of logistical infrastructure capable of connecting mining areas to global markets. In this context, the TAZARA Railway and the Lobito Corridor demonstrate how major transport infrastructures have become instruments of international influence and power projection for the countries that control them.

The TAZARA Railway, today used for both freight and passenger transport, was strongly advocated by Zambia and Tanzania. For Zambia, it meant preserving economic and political independence, while for Tanzania it represented a lever for economic development. The project, not supported by Western powers, was financed and built by Maoist China between 1970 and 1975, resulting in a 1,860-kilometre railway. By facilitating copper exports and fuel imports, the infrastructure remains a strategic node for China. This long-term engagement is evidenced by the US$1.4 billion agreement signed in November 2025 by China, Zambia, and Tanzania to modernise the line.

The second railway, stretching 1,739 kilometres and connecting Africa’s Copperbelt to international markets, is the Lobito Corridor. Based on the historic Benguela Railway and revitalised in 2015 by China Railway 20 Bureau, the concession is now held by a consortium led by European groups. As part of the joint US–EU effort under the Global Gateway and the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), the corridor is expected to be extended from Luacano to Chingola, linking it to the existing railway managed by Zambia Railways Limited. The Lobito Corridor thus takes on a dual role: a development project to accelerate access to CMs and a geopolitical instrument aimed at rebalancing China’s presence in the region.

Beyond railways, towards the oceans 

In a geopolitical equation in which railways are regaining centrality without displacing the importance of the maritime dimension, what emerges is a competition structured around control of the routes that connect mineral resources to global markets. The Lobito Corridor channels African trade flows towards the Atlantic Ocean, directing them into European and North American industrial hubs. Similarly, the TAZARA Railway connects the Copperbelt to Indian Ocean routes, as well as to Gulf and Asian markets. In an increasingly fragmented international context, where militarised chokepoints, piracy, and logistical disruptions persist, control of these transport axes ensures national security for CMs. These new corridors thus emerge as “increasingly important for risk diversification and long-term resilience”.

African agency, no longer a “scramble for Africa” 

In a continent where the lack of infrastructure can reduce economic growth “by as much as 2% per year”, African governments are leveraging competition among external powers to attract investment. Angola’s ambition to diversify its economy, Zambia’s need to secure efficient logistical routes, Tanzania’s objective of developing Dar es Salaam into a global logistics hub, and the DRC’s desire to retain greater economic value all justify interest in both projects. For local communities, the Lobito Corridor translates into new income opportunities, greener and faster transport connections, and improved access to energy and water. Similarly, the modernisation of the TAZARA Railway can be seen as a blueprint for creating a “belt of prosperity”, strengthening regional connectivity, cross-border trade, and economic activity.

Business implications

The operationalisation of the Lobito Corridor and the TAZARA Railway enables businesses to rely on a dual supply system, ensuring broader geopolitical coverage, greater flexibility, and reduced exposure to risks linked to blockages or international tensions. Whether towards the Atlantic or the Indian Ocean, companies can benefit from faster transport times, due to improved working capital dynamics, and from more environmentally friendly transport. This triggers a domino effect, creating significant investment opportunities for companies operating in the sustainability sector. The same opportunity extends to manufacturing firms, which can take advantage of an industrial system that is evolving not only around mines, but also around factories.