A US$2.15 billion contract has been signed to build the first electrified railway from Uvinza, Tanzania, to Musongati, Burundi. The project will support mineral exports to Dar es Salaam and marks the African Development Bank’s first financing of Tanzanian railway projects. The construction will occur in two segments, with key infrastructure including a road-rail bridge at the border.
On January 29, a significant contract valued at US$2.15 billion was finalized for the construction of the first electrified standard gauge railway connecting Uvinza in Tanzania to Musongati in Burundi. This railway will be a milestone as it represents the first main line in the landlocked nation of Burundi. The agreement was established between government officials from Tanzania and Burundi along with representatives from China Railway Engineering Group and China Railway Engineering Design & Consulting Group, with financial backing provided by the African Development Bank through a concessional loan.
Tanzania’s Finance Minister, Mwigulu Nchemba, highlighted the importance of this project, stating that it signifies the African Development Bank’s initial involvement in financing railway projects in Tanzania. The railway is expected to facilitate the export of various minerals such as nickel, platinum, palladium, copper, gold, and iron from Burundi to the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam, with anticipated export volumes reaching up to 3 million tonnes annually.
The construction will occur in two segments: the Tanzanian portion will extend approximately 120 kilometers from Uvinza, branching off the future Tabora-Kigoma line, to the Malagarasi River border, where a 1-kilometer combined road-rail bridge will be constructed. Subsequently, the Burundian segment will continue northward to Musongati. Earlier, a memorandum of understanding between the two nations was established in January 2022 to formalize the project, followed by a separate US$2.2 billion contract signed in December 2022 for additional railway developments within Tanzania.
The establishment of the railway from Tanzania to Burundi stands as a pivotal step towards improving transportation infrastructure in the region. It facilitates critical mineral exports, enhances economic collaboration between Tanzania and Burundi, and signifies a noteworthy financing commitment from the African Development Bank. Ultimately, this project is poised to bolster trade and economic development in the landlocked East African nation.
Original Source: www.railwaygazette.com
