A new 3.7km railway serving the Tenke Fungurume mining concession in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been formally inaugurated nearly five years after construction began.
DRC’s deputy prime minister for transport, Jean-Pierre Bemba, presided over the ceremony held on January 20 to mark the completion of RR2, a project financed by Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM). The new line, located in Lualaba Province, is designed to improve rail access to the Fungurume mining area and strengthen links with the national network, connecting at both ends with the Lubumbashi - Tenke main line.
According to Fabien Mutomb, head of Democratic Republic of Congo National Railways (SNCC), the new connection will enable a greater proportion of TFM’s ore output to move by rail, improving network efficiency and train speeds. The line is also expected to reduce logistics costs for mining and other operators.
Civil engineering works, delivered by Gazebo Congo, included excavation of more than 3 million m³ of material over a 3km section to provide suitable gradients. A 28km drainage system discharging into the Dipata River was also constructed, along with a heavy-duty level crossing suitable for mining vehicles weighing up to 80 tonnes.
Officials say that the RR2 project demonstrates how targeted private investment can modernise critical rail infrastructure and support mineral export growth, while offering a model for upgrading other sections of the Congolese network. The line entered service following last year’s technical handover and a ceremonial inspection run.
Five CKD8C4R diesel locomotives ordered by SNCC from CRRC Qishuyan in March 2024 were recently delivered to the port of Dar es Salaam. They are expected to arrive in the DRC later this month and will be deployed to boost capacity on the national network.
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