United States and China are set to fund two significant railway developments in Zambia.
Gatekeepers News reports that the infrastructural showdown is unfolding in a region renowned for its vast mineral wealth.
According to Bloomberg, the United States is investing heavily in the Lobito corridor initiative, allocating $2.3 billion not only to refurbish an existing railway that extends from the Democratic Republic of Congo to the Atlantic’s Lobito port but also to extend this network by an additional 800 kilometres (approximately 500 miles) of new railway lines deep into Zambian territory.
The U.S. is also coordinating a diverse coalition of companies and government agencies to bring the Lobito project to fruition.
Nevertheless, construction on the new link in Zambia may not commence until 2026, contingent upon securing the necessary funding from a variety of sources.
Meanwhile, China is advancing its strategy, committing more than $1 billion to the rejuvenation of the Tazara railway.
This historic route, leading to Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam port, is crucial for exporting the region’s copper and cobalt.
Both initiatives represent a strategic effort to establish faster, more efficient export routes for the mineral wealth of Zambia and Congo, marking a crucial juncture in the region’s economic and infrastructural progress.
The Lobito Atlantic Railway is a network spanning 2,600 kilometres connecting Congo and Zambia to Angola’s coast.
