A US$2.15 billion railway contract was signed to construct an electrified standard gauge line from Uvinza, Tanzania, to Musongati, Burundi, marking Burundi’s first main railway. The project, financed by the African Development Bank, will facilitate mineral exports and significantly improve transport infrastructure in the region.
A US$2.15 billion contract was signed on January 29 for the construction of an electrified standard gauge railway connecting Uvinza in Tanzania to Musongati in Burundi. This project represents an important milestone as it will be the first main line railway developed in Burundi, a landlocked country in East Africa.
The agreement involved Tanzanian and Burundian government officials along with representatives from China Railway Engineering Group and China Railway Engineering Design & Consulting Group. Financing for the project is arranged through a concessional loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB), marking the bank’s initial involvement in financing Tanzanian railway initiatives.
The railway line is expected to facilitate the export of minerals, including nickel, platinum, palladium, copper, gold, and iron, from Burundi to the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, with projected transport volumes of up to 3 million tonnes per year.
Construction will occur in two segments; the Tanzanian section will diverge from the planned Tabora-Kigoma line at Uvinza, extending approximately 120 km to the Malagarasi River border, where a 1 km road-rail bridge will be built. The Burundian part will then continue to Musongati.
Earlier, a memorandum of understanding to develop this railway link was signed between Tanzania and Burundi in January 2022. In December 2022, Tanzania also contracted Chinese companies for another railway project to build the 411 km Tabora-Uvinza-Kigoma line, branching from the standard gauge Dar es Salaam-Mwanza railway.
The signing of the US$2.15 billion contract for the railway project is a significant advancement for both Tanzania and Burundi. It aims to develop crucial transport infrastructure that will enhance mineral exports from Burundi and represents a strategic financing effort by the African Development Bank. The project is expected to facilitate economic growth and regional trade in East Africa.
Original Source: www.railwaygazette.com
