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The United States is seeking to counter China’s influence in the search for critical minerals by targeting Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for infrastructure development.
Helaina Matza, acting special coordinator for the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, reassured African governments that the U.S. initiative to develop infrastructure in Africa would continue, even if there was a change in the U.S. administration.
Speaking on Wednesday, Matza highlighted the progress of the Lobito corridor, which connects copper and cobalt mines in the DRC to an Atlantic port in Angola, according to a report by Mining Weekly.
The Biden administration has promoted the Lobito project as part of the Group of Seven’s infrastructure plan, which aimed to deploy US$600 billion by 2027 to close the global infrastructure gap and counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative while securing access to critical minerals for the energy transition.
However, concerns have arisen over whether Donald Trump would maintain this initiative if he wins the U.S. presidential election in November.
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In response, Matza stated, “Every dollar that you have heard that’s announced already is in motion. What we’re focused on right now is how we identify those last pieces that we need to get moving.”
The U.S. initially proposed US$250 million in financing for the corridor through its International Development Finance Corporation.
The board had since approved US$553 million in funding, pending Congressional approval.
The group of companies awarded the concession to operate the rail line linking Angola’s Lobito port to the Congo border expect the first disbursement in the first quarter of 2025.
The central African Copperbelt, shared by Zambia and the DRC, has become the center of a regional railway revival to enhance transport capacity for metal exports.
Currently, 80 percent of goods in Africa are transported by road, with truck journeys to ports often taking more than a month, frequently facing long border queues.
Zambia isbalso looking to revitalise another historic railway route to the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
The government plans to sign a deal next month with China Civil Engineering Construction Corp for the state-owned company to take over the concession of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) line and operate it commercially.
While the U.S. had expressed interest in connecting Lobito to Tanzania’s coast via a trans-African railway, it remains uncertain if the new TAZARA concessionaire will support this plan.
“We think it’s really important to leverage existing infrastructure,” Matza stated.
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