China’s CCECC to invest $1.4bn into Tanzania-Zambia railway upgrade for 30-year concession

The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) has committed to investing $1.4 billion to revitalize the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), a critical transport route for copper exports in Central Africa.
The deal, announced at the recent Zambia International Mining and Energy Conference (ZIMEC 2025), aims to improve infrastructure and operations along the aging railway. Under the agreement, CCECC will allocate $1 billion for the full rehabilitation of TAZARA’s railway tracks, enhancing safety, capacity, and efficiency. An additional $400 million will be used to purchase 32 new locomotives and 762 wagons, significantly boosting freight and passenger transport capabilities. The project will unfold in a 30-year concession arrangement, beginning with three years of construction and rehabilitation, followed by 27 years of operation and management.
TAZARA, which has long been a key route for copper and cobalt exports from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has faced logistical challenges, especially with bottlenecks in South Africa. This upgrade aims to alleviate these issues and provide a more reliable transport option. The CCECC investment reflects China’s ongoing commitment to infrastructure development across Africa, despite a slowdown in its lending activity in recent years. This project also underscores China’s strategic focus on supporting economic growth and enhancing trade ties with African nations, further cementing its role in the region’s development.