The African Development Bank (AfDB) has allocated significant funds for the second phase of the construction of a railway line connecting Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Construction of a railway line

Burundi will receive $98.62 million in grants, while Tanzania will receive loans totaling $597.79 million.

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This project involves a 282 km cross-border electrified single-track railway extending over 651 km. It traverses Tanzania and Burundi, including the Tabora-Kigoma section in Tanzania, the longest stretch at 411 km.

Upon completion, the project will provide Burundi access to the port of Dar-es-Salaam, a crucial hub handling up to 80% of the country’s total export and import volume.

The entire project is estimated to cost $3.93 billion, with the new railway playing a strategic role in the development of nickel deposits in the Musongati region.

Burundi, ranked 10th globally in nickel reserves, also possesses lithium and cobalt deposits.

This initiative contributes not only to the economic development of the region but also strengthens transportation infrastructure in a vital direction.

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