Copper Corridors: Global Competition Intensifies Around Zambia’s Mineral Lifelines

By Jayden Bagshaw

Surging global demand for copper is reshaping Southern and Central Africa’s transport map, thrusting Zambia and its neighbours into the centre of an intensifying geopolitical and commercial contest for critical minerals.

At the heart of this competition lies infrastructure. Railways, roads, and ports that once symbolised Cold War politics or post-independence ambition are being revived, expanded, or rerouted to serve a new purpose: moving copper quickly and efficiently from Africa’s interior to global markets hungry for metals needed for electrification, renewable energy, and electric vehicles.

One of the most prominent of these routes is the TAZARA railway, a 1,860-kilometre line linking Zambia’s Copperbelt to the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Built by China in the 1970s, the railway has long struggled with aging infrastructure, unreliable service, and fuel shortages. For years, it was viewed as a symbol of neglect rather than opportunity.

That perception has changed dramatically.

In late 2025, China launched a US$1.4-billion modernisation programme for TAZARA, aiming to restore the line as a high-capacity export corridor for copper and other minerals. The upgrade is designed to accelerate shipments to the Indian Ocean and onward to Asian markets, aligning closely with Beijing’s broader strategy to secure long-term access to critical raw materials.

The revival of TAZARA is only one front in a broader infrastructure race. The United States and the European Union are backing a competing westward route—the Lobito Corridor—which would carry copper from southern Democratic Republic of Congo through Angola to the Atlantic port of Lobito. Plans include a future spur linking directly into Zambia’s Copperbelt, creating an alternative export path to Western markets.

Together, these rival corridors highlight how strategic minerals have become central to global power dynamics. Copper prices have climbed to record levels, and demand forecasts continue to rise as governments accelerate energy-transition investments. As a result, access to Zambia’s and Congo’s mineral wealth has become a priority not only for corporations, but for world leaders.

“This is about making sure no one is excluded from access to critical minerals,” said Kakenenwa Muyangwa, chief executive of ZCCM Investment Holdings, which holds minority stakes in many of Zambia’s largest mines. According to Muyangwa, the surge of competing infrastructure proposals ultimately benefits Zambia by increasing optionality and bargaining power.

Canada’s mining sector stands to gain significantly from these developments. Major producers such as First Quantum Minerals and Barrick Mining operate some of the region’s largest copper assets and are positioned to benefit from improved logistics—regardless of which corridor ultimately dominates.

First Quantum, which operates the Kansanshi and Trident mines in north-western Zambia, is also pursuing a third route as a hedge against rail delays: an upgraded 371-kilometre road connection to Walvis Bay in Namibia. Once completed, the route is expected to sharply reduce transit times for copper exports and inbound supplies, offering faster access to the Atlantic Ocean.

The convergence of Chinese, Western, and private-sector infrastructure investment reflects a deeper shift. Africa’s mineral corridors are no longer passive trade routes—they are strategic assets in a global contest shaped by energy security, industrial policy, and geopolitics.

For Zambia, the renewed focus presents both opportunity and challenge. Improved export routes can unlock higher revenues, attract investment, and reduce logistics costs. At the same time, managing competing external interests while maximising national benefit will test policy coherence and institutional capacity.

What is clear is that copper has transformed old railways and forgotten ports into pivotal pieces of global supply chains. As demand continues to surge, the battle for Africa’s mineral lifelines is only beginning—and Zambia now sits squarely at its centre.