Country Tanzania District Kilombero District Elevation 294 m | Region Morogoro Region Climate Aw Local time Monday 4:52 PM | |
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Time zone East Africa Time (UTC+3) Weather 27°C, Wind SE at 8 km/h, 82% Humidity | ||
Kidatu is a town in southern Tanzania located in Kilombero District, Morogoro Region. The local population is about 3300. The primary economic activity is the large Illovo sugar cane plantation and factory which produces 130,000 tons of sugar per year.
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Map of Kidatu, Tanzania
Kidatu is a town in central Tanzania. It lies on plains to the south of mountains to the north.
Transport
Kidatu is the terminus of a 107 km branch line from Kilosa off the Central line of Tanzania Railways Corporation built between 1958 and 1963. This line is 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) gauge. In the 1970s, the newer TAZARA railway, which is 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in), passed through.
It is about 300 km from Dar es Salaam via the north or via TAZARA.
Transshipment hub
Since 1998, a transshipment station has been provided to overcome the break-of-gauge at this location. This hub connects the large 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) zone of southern Africa and bypasses congestion at Dar es Salaam.
Under a deal with Tanzania, metre gauge trains that connect with 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) trains at Kidatu are operated by the Trans Africa Railway Corporation.
The hub carries about 160,000t of traffic per year.
Industry
Kidatu has a sugar mill.