Keypoints:
- Major rail, road, and port projects underway
- Global investors target Africa’s mineral exports
- African Mining Week highlights new corridors
AFRICA is fast-tracking major infrastructure investments in rail, road and ports to support its booming mining sector. As demand for critical minerals rises globally, the continent’s key regional corridors are taking shape — transforming how African resources reach international markets.
These game-changing developments will be spotlighted at African Mining Week (AMW) 2025, taking place from October 1–3 in Cape Town. The event is set to bring together mining companies, infrastructure developers and investors to explore new opportunities reshaping Africa’s mineral supply chains.
Trans-Guinean Railway: Guinea’s iron ore gateway
Guinea is positioning itself as a major iron ore exporter with the ongoing development of the Trans-Guinean Railway, designed to transport ore from the Simandou Iron Ore Project — the world’s second-largest untapped deposit.
In February 2025, Winning Consortium Simandou awarded a $248 million contract to US-based Wabtec to supply locomotives for the line. The railway is expected to move 1.8 billion tons of iron ore, helping to elevate Guinea’s export revenues and integrate it more deeply into the global mining economy.
Lobito Corridor: a regional game-changer
In southern Africa, the Lobito Corridor is set to become one of the continent’s most important mineral export routes. Angola will begin construction of a 260-kilometre section of the Benguela Railway in 2025, as part of a broader $10 billion corridor project.
Backed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) through agreements with Zambia and Angola, the initiative includes an 800-km railway linking mineral producers in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Angola’s Lobito Port. Once operational, the corridor will accelerate copper and cobalt exports and foster regional integration.
Abidjan-Lagos Highway to boost West African trade
In West Africa, the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor is moving forward with construction slated for 2026. The $15.6 billion highway will span 1,028 km, connecting Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), European Union, and ECOWAS, the project is expected to generate 70,000 jobs and lower cross-border
trade barriers. AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina called it essential to growth:
‘It’s only through regional corridors that we can move goods and services easily across the continent, lower transport costs, promote integration and achieve impactful economic development.’
The corridor is expected to significantly improve logistics for mining exports and broader economic flows across West Africa.
TAZARA upgrade to support East Africa’s exports
In East Africa, the revitalisation of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA)
marks another key infrastructure milestone. A 2024 agreement between Tanzania, Zambia, and China aims to modernise the line, which links Zambia’s Copperbelt with the Port of Dar es Salaam.
The upgrade will help transport minerals such as copper, uranium, and rare earths, and is seen as crucial to Zambia’s goal of producing 3 million tons of copper per year by 2031. The improved line is expected to reduce export costs and attract new global investment into the Copperbelt region.
African Mining Week puts logistics in focus
With infrastructure increasingly central to Africa’s mineral future, African Mining Week 2025 will serve as a critical venue for connecting mining stakeholders with infrastructure backers and global investors.
The event is held alongside African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025, creating a dynamic platform for cross-sector partnerships and policy dialogue. Attendees will explore how corridor development is transforming African mining logistics — from port access to rail integration and cross-border supply chains.
Infrastructure: the new frontier for African mining
As Africa’s resource-rich economies look to scale up production and exports, efficient logistics is no longer optional — it’s essential. The continent’s corridor projects are set to not only boost competitiveness but also reshape its long-term trade architecture.
From Guinea’s iron ore to Zambia’s copper, these infrastructure initiatives are redefining Africa’s role in the global minerals market — and African Mining Week is where those opportunities will take centre stage.
