The government says it will embark on robust infrastructure development in the transport sector to facilitate connectivity, which will come with the demand for critical minerals in line with the green transition.
Minister of Transport and Logistics, Frank Tayali says the government is putting in a strategic infrastructure development that will also support the projected three million tonnes of copper production by 2031.
Mr Tayali told ZANIS in an interview in Cape Town, on the sidelines of the dialogue on the Lobito corridor and critical minerals in Africa, that due to Zambia’s vast potential in critical minerals, the country needs to position itself to benefit from the green energy transition.
Mr Tayali added that Zambia is also expected to benefit more from improved railway connectivity such as the Lobito, North-South and Walvis Bay corridors because of its central location.
The Minister noted that the government also plans to take advantage of the railway connectivity and enhanced trade facilitation that will in turn increase revenue collection for the country.
“Interesting for Zambia obviously going by the robust, policies that government has espoused from mining to important infrastructure development due to central and unique location, a lot of Transport corridors from around the region traverse through Zambia hence we are positioning ourselves to take advantage of this and rake in more revenue, he stated.
Mr Tayali explained that Zambia has potential to get more benefits from the green energy revolution, adding that most critical mineral deposits in Africa are found in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
And the United States government through the department of Commercial Affairs has committed to supporting economic development that fosters trade relationships to benefit all stakeholders.
Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs Sub-Sahara Africa Cynthia Griffin said the US will use the partnership for global infrastructure investment a G7 initiative focused on leveraging tools and resources for infrastructure development in emerging markets to support Zambia, DRC and Angola.
“With this Initiative the US is focused on leveraging US financial support and partnering with the private sector to create an enabling environment for private sector led economic development. We partnered with Angola, Zambia and DRC along with EU and Italy to work towards an African led vision of greater regional connectivity and economic development including in critical mineral sector.
Ms Griffin added that to this effect the US has mobilised over 6 billion dollars of investment in to the Lobito, transAfrica corridor including investment to refurbish existing railway lines along the corridor and build a new railway in Zambia to connecting critical minerals industries from Copperbelt to Lobito in Angola.
And Director at the Sub Sahara African Economist Intelligence Corporation Sam Rolland said DRC and Zambia have large deposits of the newly discovered copper that are key to the green energy transition.
Mr Rolland noted that the demand for critical minerals is expected to continue due to the increase in critical minerals demand not only in African but globally because of the green energy tradition.
“African government’s needs new strategies to enhance productivity this is because there is need to diversify from growth in services to production especially in extractive sectors which is key to the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area,” said Mr Rolland.