Uganda Railways Revives Fuel Transport with Tanktainer Rehabilitation

The Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) has commenced the refurbishment of its tanktainers, signaling a strategic move to revive fuel transportation services and enhance its multimodal freight capabilities. The first batch of 22 rehabilitated tanktainers has already left the URC workshop in Nalukolongo, where the corporation has developed the in-house capacity to undertake such extensive repairs.

These refurbished tanktainers are slated for deployment on the Port Bell–Kisumu and Jinja via Kisumu routes. The initiative is designed to bolster the nation’s fuel supply chain and fortify the movement of cargo via rail and water across Lake Victoria. The operational process involves locomotives transporting loaded tanktainers to Port Bell or Jinja pier, where they are transferred to vessels like MV Kawa or MV Pamba for transit to Kisumu, and then back to their final destinations by rail.

Currently, two government-operated vessels, MV Kawa and MV Pamba, each have the capacity to carry 22 tanktainers per trip. Given that each tanktainer holds approximately 50,000 litres of fuel, a single voyage can transport up to one million litres. URC is also looking to expand its capacity further through the acquisition of new vessels funded by the African Development Bank, which will support both container and roll-on/roll-off operations. The corporation further plans to procure additional tanktainers to meet the growing demand for fuel transportation.

Tanktainers, also known as ISO tanks, are specialized intermodal containers designed for the safe and efficient bulk transport of liquids, gases, and powders across various transport networks, offering a safer alternative to traditional drum-based methods.

https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/uganda-railways-begins-rehabilitation-of-tanktainers-ahead-of-fuel-transport-revival-5451390