Tanzania is seeking proposals for the 367km Uvinza-Gitega line, which will enable the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway to Burundi.
According to the TRC, funds have already been made aside by both governments for the start of the bilateral project in the fiscal year 2022–2023.
TRC stated in the announcement that ‘it is planned that a portion of the funds’ revenues will be utilised to cover eligible payments for contracts under the D&B [Design and Build] arrangement.’
The project will feature 85km of siding/passing loops and 282km of the main railway. Lot 1 will span a distance of 180 kilometres from Uvinza to Malagarasi inside of Tanzania, and Lot 2 will span a distance of 187 kilometres to Musongati and subsequently Gitega.
Since the two nations signed a memorandum of understanding in January regarding early cost estimates of 900 million USD, the project has been in the works.
According to the notification, the TRC will be in charge of all associated procurements on behalf of both governments even though the Uvinza-Gitega link project will be managed jointly with ARTF in Burundi.
The line will be an addition to Tanzania’s ongoing 7.6 billion USD SGR project, giving Burundi access to the central corridor and the port of Dar es Salaam.
It is anticipated that the line will drastically lower the cost of shipping Burundian goods.
Both nations stand to gain from boosted cargo volumes through the port of Dar es Salaam and increased cross-border trade via the railway line.
Similar SGR agreements are also being negotiated with Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The link will enable Burundi to increase its cargo export volumes through Dar es Salaam to at least three million tonnes of minerals and one million tonnes of other cargo annually, according to Deogratius Nsanganiyumwami, the country’s minister of works and infrastructure, who spoke at the signing of the agreement.
According to data from the Tanzania Ports Authority, Burundi presently ships 99.2 percent of its international cargo through the port of Dar es Salaam while Rwanda ships 86 percent.
Construction companies from China and Turkey are constructing the 1,637km SGR line in segments. The first phase from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro (300km) is set to start operating next year following successful test runs.
