Lot 4 is the 165km section of Tanzania’s Standard Gauge Railway between Tabora and Isaka, valued by the Ministry of Transport at US$909.1 million including VAT. It sits between Lot 3 (Makutupora to Tabora) and Lot 5 (Isaka to Mwanza).
The Ministry says the engagement of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation as subcontractor, together with closer supervision by Tanzania Railways Corporation, has increased the pace of construction and strengthened hopes of completion in 2028.
- Tanzania’s Ministry of Transport says Minister Prof. Makame Mbarawa has warned Yapi Merkezi over progress on Lot 4 of the Standard Gauge Railway between Tabora and Isaka.
- Lot 4 runs for 165km and is valued by the Ministry at US$909.1 million including VAT.
- Yapi Merkezi is the main contractor, with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation engaged as subcontractor.
- The Ministry says the subcontractor carried out 5 per cent of the works in September and October 2026.
- Tanzania Railways Corporation, led by Director General Eng. Machibya Shiwa, is supervising the project closely, including materials and expenditure.
- The Ministry says the faster pace has strengthened hopes of completion in 2028.
Tanzania’s Minister of Transport, Professor Makame Mbarawa, has warned the main contractor, Yapi Merkezi, for failing to implement the fourth section of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), between Tabora and Isaka, within the required timeframe, while commending the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) for its substantial supervisory and technical efforts in ensuring that construction continues to progress.
He made the remarks on 26 October 2026 at Bukene, one of the locations along the section, on the third day of an inspection tour covering four sections of Tanzania’s SGR: Lot 3 (Makutupora–Tabora), Lot 4 (Tabora–Isaka), Lot 5 (Isaka–Mwanza) and Lot 6 (Tabora–Kigoma).
Professor Mbarawa said the Government would not tolerate negligence by contractors who fail to execute projects at the required pace. He praised subcontractor China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), which achieved 5% progress on the project during September and October 2026, equivalent to the progress achieved by Yapi Merkezi over four years.
He commended TRC for adopting an alternative strategy to restore the pace of construction on the 165-kilometre Tabora–Isaka section. Following an assessment, he said, the Government established that removing the contractor outright could lead to further delays and financial challenges, and the contractor was advised to engage a capable subcontractor to assist with the works.
Professor Mbarawa said TRC’s strengthened technical oversight and project supervision had helped accelerate construction, raising expectations that the project could be completed within the planned timeframe in 2028. He said TRC, under its Director General, Engineer Machibya Shiwa, had made substantial efforts to establish an enabling environment that allowed the contractor to continue implementing a project that had been progressing slowly, adding that Tanzanians can now see the situation on the project through various media outlets.
Earlier, Engineer Shiwa said the corporation continued to closely supervise the project, including ensuring the availability of essential construction materials and controlling expenditure to accelerate implementation.
The Tabora–Isaka section is 165 kilometres long and has a contract value of US$909.1 million, inclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT).
