Chinese mining firm Zijin Mining has signed a concession agreement with the Tanzania government to operate Kigoma port and the Malindi terminal at the country’s main port, Dar es Salaam port.
The signing ceremony was held at the Johari Rotana hotel in Dar es Salaam on August 05, 2025, with the attendance of the Tanzania Minister of Transport, Prof. Makame Mbarawa, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Mr. Ludovick Nduhiye, and Director General of the Tanzania Port Authority, Mr.Plasduce Mbossa. Other in attendance include Lin Hongying, Vice President of Zijin Mining and the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian.
Zijin Mining, which has a significant mining operation in the DR Congo, seeks to solve logistical bottlenecks by transporting mineral products across Lake Tanganyika and overland to the Port of Dar es Salaam.
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“To address these logistics and supply chain difficulties, Zijin has planned an optimal water–land combined transport route along this eastern corridor,” Zijin Mining statement after the signing of the agreement reads.
“Mineral products will be transported by land to the Kalemie Port in DRC, shipped across the lake to Kigoma Port in Tanzania, then transported by land directly to Malindi Terminal at Dar es Salaam Port, before entering international shipping routes.This marks the opening of a core trade corridor linking Central Africa with East Africa,” the statement continues.
Information from Zijin shows that the agreement requires the firm to upgrade and renovate Malindi Terminal and Kigoma port by improving yards, warehouses, and other infrastructure, and equipping them with modern loading and unloading facilities as well as intelligent management systems.
Part of the strategy that has been shared by Zijin mining is the construction of modern vessels that wil be used in sipping cargo through lake Tanganyika.
“In addition, to support the full logistics chain, Zijin is building several 2,000-ton bulk carriers in Tanzania, scheduled for delivery in 2026,” Zijin statement reads.
“These vessels will not only be the first modern bulk cargo ships in Tanzania but are also regarded by the Tanzanian government as a landmark achievement in attracting investment and upgrading the local manufacturing industry.”
Zijin becomes the third firm to sign port concession agreement in the country after DP World which currently operate berths 4-7 and the jointly operate berths 0-3 with the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA). Other firm is the Adani International Ports Holdings (AIPH)on operation of Container Terminal 2 (Berths Number 8 to 11) at the Dar es Salaam port.
Zijin is one of the largest private mining company from China, one of its largest flagship project in Eastern and Central Africa is the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Mine.
