Tanzania’s Central Corridor SGR — a 2,800km electrified standard-gauge network connecting the Port of Dar es Salaam to Mwanza (Lake Victoria), Kigoma (Lake Tanganyika), and planned onward connections to Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and eastern DRC — has been under construction since 2017. The Dar es Salaam–Morogoro section opened June 2024; the Dodoma section followed and is now operational carrying up to 9,000 passengers per day. The Makutupora–Tabora and Tabora–Isaka sections are being accelerated under a $2.33bn Standard Chartered-led financing package closed April 2026. A $14.2bn combined rail and highway package to connect Tanzania to DRC by 2030 is under active discussion.
Project Details
Key Issues / Risks
Extension financing to DRC, Burundi and onward remains unconfirmed — the $14.2bn figure for the Tanzania-DRC broader corridor is still at discussion stage (August 2026). Coordination between multiple governments and development finance institutions is complex. The Isaka-Kigali section ($2.5bn Rwanda-Tanzania agreement) was renewed May 2026 but financial close timing is unconfirmed.
Latest Development (Detail)
July 20, 2026: President Samia launched construction of the Tabora–Kigoma SGR section and commissioned four new cargo vessels for Lake Tanganyika alongside Kigoma Port expansion works. The Dar es Salaam–Dodoma section is fully operational, having carried nearly 6 million passengers and 120,000 tonnes of cargo since opening. Standard Chartered secured $2.33bn for the Makutupora–Tabora and Tabora–Isaka sections (April 2026). Tanzania and DRC discussed $14.2bn combined rail and highway package targeting 2030 completion (August 2026).
What Happens Next
Financial close on Isaka-Kigali ($2.5bn Rwanda-Tanzania section); launch of DRC-extension financing discussions; completion of Tabora–Isaka section (critical link to Lake Victoria and the Great Lakes region).
Commercial Opportunity
The operational Dar es Salaam–Dodoma section is already generating commercial freight and passenger revenue. Extension sections will unlock DRC mineral corridor traffic — copper, cobalt and coltan from eastern DRC via Dar es Salaam Port.