Tanzania achieves engineering milestone with local locomotive assembly

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has marked a historic turning point in its industrial capability by successfully transitioning to the domestic assembly of railway locomotives.

This strategic shift towards local production was born out of necessity following global supply chain disruptions caused by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The decision to assemble six MGR Class 91XX locomotives within Tanzania represents a significant departure from traditional procurement methods. Originally, these units were part of a contract involving the supplier SMH, with initial units being built in Malaysia.

However, severe delays in the delivery of components led the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) to take direct control of the final assembly process.

By importing individual components and managing the construction at the Pugu facility, the TRC has bypassed international logistical bottlenecks that had previously stalled the project.

This internalised assembly process has yielded substantial fiscal benefits for the Tanzanian government.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Infrastructure formally recognised this achievement on March 14, 2026 during an inspection visit of the Pugu railway workshop in Dar es Salaam.

Committee Chairman, Selemani Kakoso, noted that the move has drastically reduced the costs associated with importing fully finished machinery from overseas.

Beyond the immediate financial savings, the project has served as a practical laboratory for technical skill acquisition.

The TRC director general, Mr Machibya Shiwa, confirmed that the assembly line has already provided direct employment to 34 previously jobless Tanzanian youths, integrated into the specialised workforce.

The local assembly initiative has also triggered a positive ripple effect throughout the domestic supply chain.

Engineering firms and local vendors have been contracted to provide essential materials including machined spare parts, electrical components, pipes, lubricants, and industrial fasteners.

This reliance on local procurement ensures that a larger portion of the project’s budget remains within the national economy.

The committee has urged the TRC to further this momentum by sending these young engineers for advanced training abroad to master the intricacies of modern locomotive design.

Deputy Minister for Transport, David Kihenzile, said the focus on ‘Made in Tanzania’ engineering is intended to ensure the long-term sustainability of the transport sector.

The parliamentary committee concluded by calling for strict patriotism among workers to protect these new technical assets from sabotage.