Chinese Mining and Logistics Majors Enter Shareholding of TAZARA

On the 1st of April 2026, Jiayou International Logistics released a statement that it is among four Chinese companies that will each take a 5% shareholding in #TAZARA. The other three are Zijin Mining, China Molybdenum, and COSCO. Jiayou also revealed that it is injecting about USD 62.2 million in return for the 5% share in the joint venture (JV), while the cost of the upgrade, including purchase of new rolling stock, is estimated at USD 1.4 billion.

Initially, the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) signed a 30-year concession with the Government of Tanzania to upgrade and operate the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA). The TAZARA connects Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia to the seaport of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

TAZARA is widely viewed to be in competition with the #LobitoCorridor backed by the US and EU. Both railway lines facilitate access to the mineral-rich regions in DRC and Zambia. Mining companies such as Ivanhoe Mines, Gecamines, KoBold Metals, Glencore and First Quantum are likely to use the Lobito Corridor for transport, and some have already signed and reserved capacity on the railway line.

In the case of the Lobito Atlantic Railway, Trafigura has partnered with Mota-Engil of Portugal and Vecturis of Belgium. Mota-Engil is responsible for construction, while Vecturis will operate the railway. Trafigura is a global commodities trader and holds a 49.5% share in the JV, the same as Mota-Engil. The remaining 1% is held by Vecturis.

The restructuring of the deal is to bind the cooperation with the expectation that the miners will employ the rail, logistics and shipping services of the partners. It is also interesting that Zijin is the 2nd-largest shareholder in Jiayou and holds a 17.5% stake in Zambia’s largest trucking firm. COSCO is one of the largest shipping lines in the world. It marks a significant shift from a state-driven project to a commercial joint venture.