Zambia’s Western Corridor will boost Walvis Bay’s mineral exports

Zambia’s Western Corridor will boost Walvis Bay’s mineral exports

Walvis Bay will gain more at the expense of South African ports.

By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine.

The port of Walvis Bay in Namibia is playing an increasingly important role as a strategic Atlantic gateway for southern and central Africa.

The development of Zambia’s Western Corridor Project will further boost the significance of Walvis Bay and reduce reliance on traditional routes to South Africa from the rich mining areas of Zambia and the DRC.

Western Corridor is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) concessionaire responsible for delivery of the project (design, build, finance, operate, maintain). It is jointly owned by Zambian company BeefCo and mining giant First Quantum Minerals (FQM).

The Western Corridor Project, which is implemented under a 25-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession, will upgrade the 371km Mutanda to Kaoma Roads in Western Zambia to international bituminous standards.

Corridor to reduce logistic costs  

Work will include the construction of three toll plazas, two weighbridges, upgraded bridges and 20km of urban roads.

The Western Corridor will significantly reduce transit times and logistics costs for copper, cobalt and other critical minerals from the northwest of Zambia, the Zambian Copperbelt and from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Walvis Bay’s modern port, expanding dry port network and integrated logistics services position it as one of the top export hubs in Africa.

Increased mineral volumes moving through this corridor will boost port throughput, stimulate trade services and enhance Namibia’s role in regional mineral supply chains.

Work underway

Significant work has already commenced on the Western Corridor project since the groundbreaking ceremony held on October 31, 2025 in Kasempa town.

According to FQM Country Manager, Dr. Godwin Beene the Western Corridor initiative reflects FQM’s belief that mining must act as a catalyst for inclusive and sustainable development.

“We understand that a thriving mining sector depends on a robust and well-maintained road network.

A road network connects production centers to markets, communities to opportunities, and people to prosperity,” says Dr. Beene.

“Over the past decade, First Quantum Minerals has invested in road infrastructure within Solwezi and Kalumbila. These projects, like this one, were designed to improve accessibility, enhance safety, and stimulate local enterprise. The Mutanda–Kaoma Road builds upon that legacy; demonstrating how responsible private investment can meaningfully complement public infrastructure priorities,” he adds.

WhyAfrica will be on the ground in Zambia early next year to find out more about the Western Corridor, critical minerals, defence materials, REEs and we’ll visit a few exploration and mining sites in the Copperbelt and Northwestern Provinces.

Please contact me asap if you want to be part of the WhyAfrica story in Zambia next year.

Zambia’s Western Corridor will boost Walvis Bay’s mineral exports