Tanzania starts local assembly of MGR locomotives, creating jobs and cutting costs

Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) has begun assembling Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) locomotives locally at the Pugu Railway Workshop, becoming the first country in East Africa to do so. The initiative has drawn praise from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Infrastructure, which encouraged TRC to continue training Tanzanian youth in advanced technical skills both locally and abroad. Committee Chairperson Selemani Kakoso emphasized that developing local technicians will boost innovation, expertise, and efficiency in the railway sector, and urged TRC to prioritize employing these trained youths. The project was partly motivated by delays in spare parts delivery from supplier SMH due to global supply chain disruptions linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. TRC imported two fully assembled locomotives from Malaysia, while the rest of the components are assembled locally. This effort has reduced government expenditure, created jobs for 34 previously unemployed youths, and supported local suppliers of materials and technical services such as machining, construction materials, electrical equipment, pipes, lubricants, and rubber products. Deputy Minister for Transport David Kihenzile highlighted the government’s commitment to expanding railway infrastructure, noting ongoing construction of over 2,290 kilometres of Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and procurement of rolling stock. TRC Director General Eng Machibya Shiwa described the project as a historic step that benefits both the local workforce and businesses.