TAZARA secures a deal to move 18 million litres of fuel to DRC

THE Tanzania Zambia Railways Authority (TAZARA) has secured an 18 million letres (18,000 metric tones) order to ferry petroleum products from the port of Dar-es-salaam in Tanzania to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the next one year.

This follows the successful conclusion of an agreement between TAZARA and African Fossils Limited of Tanzania and the first consignment of about one million litres (1,000 metric tones) left the port of Dar-es-salaam yesterday heading to the DRC.
TAZARA Head of Public Relations, Conrad Simuchile disclosed this at Mpika today in an interview with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS).

Mr. Simuchile said his company is confident that the initial two million litres (2,000 metric tones) will be successfully delivered to DRC within the next one month.

“As we consolidate our turnaround mission, we are delighted to announce the conclusion of an Agreement with African Fossils Limited of Tanzania to move 18 million litres (18,000 metric tones) of petroleum products to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the next one year,” said Mr. Simuchile.

Mr. Simuchile said that this import order is particularly key because it fulfills the company’s desire to balance the flow of traffic in both directions of the railway line saying most of the traffic they are currently moving comprises exports from Zambia and DRC.

He said that the fuel order is the second import consignment to be secured within a month, following the transportation order for 48 million litres (48,000 metric tones) of petroleum destined for Malawi.

Mr. Simuchile added that the target for TAZARA for the financial year ending 30 June 2017 is to move 381,000 metric tones of cargo, a three-fold improvement from 130,000 metric tones that they have recently hauled in the just ended 2015/2016 Financial Year.

The TAZARA HPR said that the railway firm is grateful to African Fossils Limited for giving them a vote of confidence through this order, which also reaffirms the faith that customers have generally placed in the Authority.

“We believe we are well on course to turnaround TAZARA’s performance, which had dropped to the lowest in the Financial Year 2014/2015, when a paltry 87,680 metric tones was transported,” He said.

Yesterday, TAZARA Managing Director, Engineer Bruno Ching’andu said his company intends to move about 380,000 tones of cargo on its railway line this financial year.

Engineer Ching’andu disclosed this at Chozi Railway station in Mbala during his continued tour of the stations between Dar-es-salaam in Tanzania and New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia.

Engineer Ching’andu is making his debut visit of all the 94 railway stations on the 1,860 km stretch of the railway line following his appointment on April 25 this year.

The line inspection tour of the TAZARA MD has coincided with the 40th Anniversary of commercial operations in the two sister countries since the Chinese Government handed over the operations on July 14, 1976 to the authority.

Engineer Ching’andu is taking time to talk to the workers encouraging them on the need to work as a team and regain the lost glory.

Engineer Ching’andu says his vision is to regain the lost glory of the railway company that has over the years performed badly, losing a lot of customers in the process.

The TAZARA MD is accompanied by Marketing Manager Evariste Kasumbai, Regional Manager Patrick Shangala, Civil Chiefs Engineer Chomba Chomba, Manager Planning and Corporate Justine Kabela and Head-Public Relations Conrad Simuchile.