Burundi’s president Evariste Ndayishimiye has officially laid the foundation stone for the country’s historic and first-ever railway on Saturday. He was joined at the landmark ceremony in Musongati by Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa to begin the massive project.
This impressive new 282-kilometer rail line will connect landlocked Burundi to neighboring Tanzania’s strategic Port of Dar es Salaam. This vital new rail network will form a critical part of the Central Corridor, a strategic trade route for inland economies.
Flory Okendju, an executive of the Central Corridor, said the railway will profoundly transform regional transport and reduce delays. The massive project, expected to take about six years to complete, will eventually extend to Uvira and Kindu in eastern DR Congo.
This railway will enable the country to finally exploit millions of tons of valuable nickel, iron, and platinum resources. President Ndayishimiye stated that this is truly the profound beginning of a robust and sustainable development for the entire nation.
Burundi’s prime minister said the cash-strapped country will save an estimated $36 million each month on import and export transportation. The estimated $2.1 billion cost of the project is being funded by the African Development Bank and the Tanzanian CRDB bank.
The extensive project is being managed by two Chinese companies that are tasked with overseeing the massive construction and development. The railway, once completed, is expected to eventually extend into eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to officials.