Tanzania and Burundi have signed a USD 2.15 billion agreement with two Chinese companies to construct a railway linking the two nations. Developed by China Railway Engineering Group and China Railway Engineering Design and Consulting Group, and backed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the project aims to enhance trade and support mineral exports, particularly nickel, lithium, and cobalt.
The 282km (175-mile) standard gauge railway (SGR) will connect mining hubs in Burundi with Tanzania’s port city of Dar es Salaam, allowing the transport of up to three million metric tonnes of minerals annually. The railway will also facilitate agricultural exports and improve regional logistics.
Expected to be completed within 72 months, the railway will cover key routes: Tabora–Kigoma (411km) and Uvinza–Malagarasi (156km) in Tanzania, and Malagarasi–Musongati (84km) in Burundi. Originally proposed in January 2022, the project’s cost has risen from $900 million due to its expanded economic significance.
The railway will support the development of Musongati, home to the world’s tenth-largest nickel reserves, as well as lithium and cobalt extraction. Recognised by the East African Community and the African Union as a key infrastructure initiative, it is set to transform trade in Eastern and Central Africa.
Tanzania expects the railway to move over a million tonnes of cargo annually, with projections exceeding three million tonnes of minerals transported between the two countries each year. It will be Africa’s second transnational electrified railway, boosting economic integration and regional connectivity.
Tanzania Railway Corporation and Burundi’s ARTF are overseeing the project, with bidding concluding in November 2023. China Railway Engineering Group was officially selected as the contractor in January 2025. The railway, built to AREMA and UIC standards, will allow speeds of up to 160 km/h.
The railway will integrate into Tanzania’s standard gauge network at Uvinza, running northwest along the Malagarasi River to Musongati, before reaching Burundi’s capital, Gitega. Planned stations include four in Tanzania (Mutinde, Kasulu, Lugoma, and a border station) and five in Burundi (a border station, Rutana, Musongati, Gitega-Ceru, and Gitega-Rutegama).
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