CTBL-Watch - Issue 16 - April 2015.indd
Transcription
CTBL-Watch - Issue 16 - April 2015.indd
CTBL-WATCH AFRICA ISSUE 16 | APRIL 2015 CMA CGM / DELMAS A LEADING OFFER IN INTERIOR RAIL CONNECTIONS FUTURE MOMENTUM AS CENTRAL CORRIDOR RAIL PROJECT LAUNCHED Full Story On Page 5 Tanzania: To Spend US$14 Billion On Railways 21 Uganda: Chinese US$3.2 Billion Rail Plan 22 Benin/Niger: Bollore Finalises Terms Of €1 Billion Rail Project 25 CTBL-WATCH AFRICA ISSUE 16 | APRIL 2015 Contents 03 / Corridor Review 09 / Eastern & Southern Africa 05 / African Group News 23 / Western Africa Top Stories 5 CMA CGM / DELMAS: A Leading Offer In Interior Rail Connections 21 Tanzania: To Spend US$14 Billion On Railways 22 Uganda: Chinese US$3.2 Billion Rail Plan 25 Benin/Niger: Bollore Finalises Terms Of €1 Billion Rail Project 1 The African Inland Freight Report Brought to you by CMA CGM / DELMAS Marketing Website: www.delmas.com Email: lhv.marketing@delmas.net Tweet: @DelmasWeDeliver Rachel Bennett Dominic Rawle CMA CGM Marseille Head Office 4, Quai d’Arenc 13235 Marseille cedex 02 France Tel : +33 (0)4 88 91 90 00 www.cmacgm.com Disclaimer of Liability CMA CGM / DELMAS make every effort to provide p and maintain usable, p and timely information in this report. No responsibility is accepted for the accuracy, completeness, or relevance to o the user’s purpose, of the information. Accordingly Delmas denies any liability for any direct, direct indirect or consequential loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of relying on any published information. Conclusions drawn from, or actions undertaken on the basis of, such data and information are the sole responsibility of the reader. News Headlines By Region Eastern & Southern Africa Regional: EALA Now Outlaws Non-Tariff Barriers / TMEA Report: Trade Environment Improved In East Africa / TMEA Funding: Announces US$90 Million for East Africa’s Infrastructure Botswana: Dry Port Links Botswana With World / Botswana And Zambia Receive Financing For Bridge Kenya: Kenya Seeks US$1.3 Billion To Upgrade Highways / Rift Valley Railways Getting Back On Track Mozambique: Mega Beira-Zimbabwe Road Project Starts / US$10.9 Million To Revamp EN4 Motorway / Mozambique’s 5-Year Road Plan / World Bank Gives US$73.6 Million For Road Rehabilitation / CFM Seek Funding For Rail Development / CFM Rail Growth At 25% Namibia: Experts Address Development Corridor Issues / Guide To Walvis Bay Corridor Launched / Goods Stranded As Railway Washed Away Rwanda: Importers Demand Own Cargo Area at Mombasa Port / 200 Rwandan Containers Face Mombasa Auction / Standards Agency Launches Web Portal To Ease Transactions / Chinese Complete Construction Of MR25 South Africa: N1/N4 Toll Route To See R5 Billion Upgrade / Transnet Completes 95 Electric Locomotives Tanzania: Central Corridor Roadblocks & Checks Reduced / Country To Spend US$14 Billion On Railways Uganda: Export Earnings See 6% Growth / Chinese US$3.2 Billion Rail Plan Zambia: Funds Released For Copperbelt & Lusaka Roads / Upgrade Of Bottom Road Advances Zimbabwe: Exports To Grow 3% In 2015 – Zimtrade / Bulawayo Needs US$115 Million For Road Rehabilitation / Construction Of Wedza And Sadza Road Western Africa Angola: Countries To Construct 3-International Bridges / GE Group Supplies 100 Locomotives Benin: Bollore Finalises Terms Of €1 Billion Rail Project / Railway Project Formally Launched Cote d’Ivoire: Mano River Union Transport Program DRC: Rail ZRL/Firm Ink Deal Gambia: Gambia Inaugurates Basse-Sabi Road Ghana: Regional Capitals Road Expansion On Course Liberia: Red Light-Guinea Road Construction Progressing Mali: Borderless Alliance Workshop On Professionalizing The Trucking Industry 2 CTBL AFRICA CORRIDOR REVIEW Eastern & Southern Africa 3 Corridor Current Situation 1 ● Kenya-Great Lakes/S. Sudan The rail line between Kampala and Mombasa is running well with an estimated transit of 10 days. We offer extensive CTBL services throughout Kenya backed by a deal negotiated with Rift Valley Railways [RVR], the operator of the KenyaUganda Railways, we are able to offer very competitive and reduced rates to the ICD Embakasi, Nairobi from Mombasa port, Kenya. Our ASEA KENYA service, providing direct weekly services from Asia to Mombasa, enhances our inland solutions to domestic Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, eastern DRC. We also offer routes to the North Kivu region in eastern DRC and new connections through Mombasa port to Beni, Butembo and Kisangani, towns all lying on the main national route N4. A New reefer solution is available from Nairobi to Mombasa by road. 2 ● Tanzania-Great Lakes With a new improved ASEA TANZANIA service we offer direct weekly service from Asia to Dar Es Salaam enhancing inland solutions to the heart of DRC, Burundi, Rwanda. Roads from Dar Es Salaam to North Rwanda, Burundi and DRC [Goma / Bukavu / Uvira are in good condition. Burundi transit times are still impacted due to a deviation to avoid a broken bridge. Trucks are forced to use another route adding an additional 200-km equating to 1-2 days transit. Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda are now part of the EAC single custom territory with Tanzania. The single customs territory is due to start soon but not yet fully operational via Dar Es Salaam and not enforced by Tanzanian authorities. The new Custom TOOL in TZDAR is now working normally. 3 ● Tanzania-Copper Belt Roads through Mbeya offer an alternative to the train to Ndola. The Group is the only shipping line to have its own office in Lubumbashi which closely monitors the local situation. The transport corridor from Dar Es Salaam to Lusaka, Copper belt & Lubumbashi is safe and we can offer competitive rates and transit times. Our local agent is working with local hauliers to further improve this. With an improved ASEA TANZANIA service we offer direct weekly service from Asia to Dar Es Salaam enhancing inland solutions to Malawi and Zambia. 4 ● Mozambique Nacala Corridor CMA CGM / DELMAS will accept new bookings on this corridor in spite of railways not fully operational as yet following the heavy rains. Back-up solutions are being organised locally and we trust that the situation will get back to normal shortly. 5 ● Mozambique Beira Corridor A bond agreement with customs is in place and we have our own broker at our agency office to shorten clearance time and trucking. 6 ● Mozambique Maputo Corridor New competitive solutions are available to Zimbabwe by rail from MaputoHwange. Please note there are no port storage invoiced if shortage of wagons in Maputo. 7 ● S. Africa Durban New competitive rates are available to Lusaka & Copperbelt [Zambia], Lubumbashi [DRC] and Gaborone [Botswana]. We have extended our South African inland reefer service from/to the port of Durban to Johannesburg. Extension of all other over border trucking rates. 8 ● Namibia Walvis Bay New CTBL export solutions are available from DRC and Zambia to Walvis Bay for dry and reefer equipment. The corridor to Lusaka, Kitwe, Ndola & Lubumbashi in south DRC are running well. Our 1st breakbulk load was successfully trucked from Walvis Bay to Lubumbashi as was our first reefer trial shipment by road. We can also offer Windhoek! Western Africa Corridor Current Situation Senegal-Mali Both road and rail options are running smoothly with good transits available. 2 ● ● Senegal-Guinea Bissau The corridor remains open but due to the Ebola crisis the border process and status will be checked on a case by case basis before booking. 3 ● Cote d’Ivoire-Burkina/Mali Due to the Presidential elections in 2015 volumes are stable. Therefore the rail service from Abidjan is running well offering excellent transit times and no congestion. We also recommend the road option. Furthermore the Group is to launch a new reefer service from Abidjan to many new inland destinations. 4 ● Ghana-Burkina Tema-Ouagadougou service is now available as an additional option. The Tema corridor to Burkina is now the most competitive pricewise, with excellent transit time from Asia with AFEX service. Our expert TBL team is now in place and fully involved for all your booking requests. 5 ● Togo-Burkina/Niger Service is running well. Thanks to good volumes and on-going negotiations with suppliers we have decreased our Ouagadougou rates from Lome. We can also offer excellent solutions from Asia on our AFEX service. Please note that the port of Lome is strict on enforcing weight regulations for trucks. 6 ● Cameroon-Chad There are currently delays by rail as the operator CAMRAIL is experiencing congestion in both Douala & N’Gaoundere stations. We therefore suggest cargo is moved via our road TBL service. 7 ● Cameroon-CAR Douala-Bangui is now open. This corridor is offered on a case by case with agreement from our local Douala Agency. Political security is not 100% on this corridor. 8 ● Gabon Corridor From Libreville, CMA CGM serves domestic destinations by road to Franceville, Lambarene, Mouila, Bitam, Moanda, Mitzicand Makokou. 9 ● Congo Corridor Pointe Noire-Brazzaville corridor is REOPENED on a request basis. We are undertaking some trial shipments as a test case. 10 ● DRC Corridor Matadi-Kinshasa service running slowly due to congestion and delays at Pointe Noire port. 1 4 CMA CGM / DELMAS AFRICAN GROUP NEWS CMA CGM / DELMAS A Leading Offer In Interior Rail Connections Future Momentum As Central Corridor Rail Project Launched As East African leaders meet this month in a historic summit to witness the launching of the construction of the Central Corridor Railway that will link land locked countries of the region to the Port of Dar-es-Salaam we interview Benjamin Coston our Regional Intermodal Manager about our current East Africa rail corridor services and what the impact of the Central Corridor Railway will be to our future services! Q: CMA CGM / DELMAS offer several East Africa rail corridors. Can you expand on these services? We offer several rail services throughout the East Africa region. In Mozambique we offer 2-rail corridors. The ‘Mozambique Maputo Corridor’ is available to Zimbabwe by rail from Maputo to Harare and Maputo to Hwange [Zimbabwe]. And the ‘Mozambique Nacala Corridor’ offers rail routings to Nacala-Blantyre and NacalaLilongwe using the Corredor de Desenvolvimento do Norte [CDN - Nacala railway]. From the Kenyan port of Mombasa we offer extensive rail CTBL services throughout Kenya. Following a new deal negotiated with Rift Valley Railways [RVR], the operator of the Kenya-Uganda Railways, we are able to offer very competitive and reduced rates to the ICD Embakasi, Nairobi from Mombasa port. Q: What potential new services are you reviewing? In Kenya we are looking into a new deal from Mombasa to Kampala in addition to the block trains we already offer on a weekly basis from Mombasa to Nairobi [Embakasi]. We are also busy negotiating with providers and Mozambican railway entity to re-open BeiraHarare corridor by rail in the coming weeks. Q: What specialist rail services do CMA CGM / DELMAS offer? It is important for us that we protect our customers’ interests. The difficulty is not providing a rail offer as securing rates from rail companies is easily achieved. The challenge comes in providing a service with no hidden costs prior to the consignees receiving their goods at destination. This is why we ensure before opening any new rail offer that we minimise all unseen charges. For example CMA CGM will always indemnify its customers from port storage liability should the railway company delay the supply of wagons for any reason. For us this commitment is the only way to move forward in promoting rail services in Southern and Eastern Africa. Q: What is the Central Corridor Railway Project? The Central Corridor Railroad [CCR] is a project to modernize the most important regional railroad in Central East Africa in order to provide efficient market access to western Tanzania and landlocked nations, unlocking the region’s economic potential. The 100 year-old railroad that extends from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, toward Rwanda, Burundi, Eastern DRC and Uganda, is the backbone of Tanzania’s transport infrastructure and the most efficient transportation route from the coast into Central East Africa. It will have spur lines to Kigali, Bujumbura and Masaka. The Central Corridor Railway construction is scheduled to start on June 30th this year to ease the movement of cargo throughout the East Africa region from Dar Es Salaam port to Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and DRC throughout the construction of 2,561 km of standard gauge railway. The launch was hosted by President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, the Burundi leader, Pierre Nkurunziza and the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC], Joseph Kabila also attended. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta also attended as an observer. This US$14.2 billion project is scheduled to be completed within 5 years. Q: How will the Central Corridor Railway project impact Group services? Returns from a modern railroad will offer the Group less expensive and an improved physical access unlocking the potential for regional trade and increased market access. Regional benefits include uniting of trade across Tanzania, DRC, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. Providing alternatives to the road services has always been a priority for CMA CGM in Southern and Eastern Africa. Our growth in the region keep us the biggest potential customer for all railways entities in East Africa. Q: What is the impact of the EAC single window on services? The 5-member states have introduced a single window at the 2-ports of Mombasa, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the main entrances to the region and countries have also introduced an electronic cargo tracking system. All documentation and transactions regarding the movement of goods are now done at one point in order to reduce business costs and time spent. By implementing the single customs protocol, roadblocks and other non-tariff barriers have been removed or reduced within the entire EAC region. 5 Central Corridor Railroad [CCR] FACTBOX • The CCR project will modernize 1,627km of Tanzania’s existing colonial railroad infrastructure from the port of Dar es Salaam to the inland lake ports of Kigoma and Mwanza. • Project will develop 460km of new railroad infrastructure from Isaka, Tanzania, into Kigali, Rwanda. • The project will be phased to establish successful railroad operations prior to expansion into Rwanda and Burundi. • The first phase of the CCR project will upgrade and standard gauge 977km from Dar es Salaam to Isaka in Tanzania. This route is designed to capture the majority of the existing long-haul traffic across Tanzania, and allow the trucking industry to operate more efficient routes off of the main railway line. • UNITY has formed a consortium of industry leading strategic and financial partners to both develop and operate the Central Corridor Railroad on behalf of the Government of Tanzania, including Bechtel [Construction Manager], HDR Inc. [Engineering Manager], GE Transportation [Equipment Provider], and BNSF [Operations Advisor]. 6 CMA CGM / DELMAS AFRICAN GROUP NEWS Serving Gabon’s Inland Destinations CMA CGM Opens A New Road Corridor Via Libreville CMA CGM / DELMAS continuously strives to develop new inland services. As such we have set up a new intermodal hub in Libreville, Gabon. From here we will serve the domestic Gabonese destinations of Franceville, Franceville, Mouila, Bitam, Moanda, Mitzic and Makokou by road. From FRANCEVILLE NKOK NTOUM LAMBARENE MOUILA BITAM KANGO MOANDA MITZIC MAKOKOU DOUALA YAOUNDE NJENOU Transit Times LIBREVILLE 16h 2h 3h 4h 8h 8h 3h 12h 5h 9h 24h 16h 16h Road / Rail Road Road Road Road Road Road Road Road Road Barge Road Road Our service targets large mining and agricultural companies located in the north of Gabon such as Makokou, Lambaréné and Franceville. We handle mainly spare parts and machinery destined for factories or public works driven by the wood industry or the Gabonese Government as well as agricultural raw materials. ADVICE: BIETC It is worth remembering that the BIETC tracking note is compulsory for customs clearance for cargo entering Gabon and it is mandatory to indicate the BIETC number both on the bill of lading and on the manifest before loading. The shipper or his forwarding agent need to provide a draft of the cargo tracking note [BIETC]. The final document is required according to the following time limit: Africa zone: 5 days after vessel’s departure / Europe zone: 10 days after vessel’s departure / America, Asia, Oceania, Middle East zone: 15 days after vessel’s departure. For bookings, rates and information please contact your local agent for further information. 7 Targeting The Ugandan Market CMA CGM Opens A New Rail Corridor Via Mombasa CMA CGM / DELMAS have recently opened a new export route by rail between Kampala and Mombasa. We are able to offer competitive rates with an estimated transit of just 10 days. Our service targets the soft commodity trades such as cocoa, sesame, tobacco and teak logs. For all bookings, rates and details on this service please contact your local agent for further information. ADVICE: PVoC As of 03/12/12, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards [UNBS] resumed its Pre Export Verification of Conformity to Standards [PVoC] program. According to the program, first introduced in 2010, all goods subject to it, will have to be accompanied by Certificate of Conformity [CoC]. UNBS officers at border points will verify certificates for integrity. UNBS has contracted 3-international companies - SGS, Intertek and Bureau Veritas to carry out this exercise. RAIL LINKS - THE FUTURE! The new US$1.35 billion Mombasa-Kigali line is to be built by the China Communications and Construction Company and will run from Mombasa port to Malaba, Kampala and then on to Kigali [2,935km]. It is expected to be finished by 2018-20 and have a huge impact on trade in the corridor. 8 EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRIDOR NEWS East Africa EALA Now Outlaws Non-Tariff Barriers The East African Legislative Assembly [EALA] has passed the EAC Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers Bill, outlawing the remaining 15% of Non-Tariff Barriers [NTBs] in the region. Initiated by the Council of Ministers, the legislation enforces Article 13 of the Protocol on the Establishment of the EAC Customs Union in which partner states agreed to remove, with immediate effect, all existing NTBs. The Bill sailed through its 3rd reading and now awaits assent by EAC Heads of State. The draft law provides a legal mechanism for the elimination of identified NTBs in partner states and for identifying and monitoring the removal of NTBs within partner states. Under the new law, traders affected by NTBs would be free to seek legal redress in the East Africa Court of Justice [EACJ]. The EAC now prepares quarterly reports on the status of the elimination of NTBs to boost efforts by the National Monitoring Committees and the EAC Regional Forum on NTBs. [New Times 26/03/15] TMEA Report: Trade Environment Improved In East Africa A study published by TradeMark East Africa [TMEA], a donor-funded organization formed to help regional states speed up integration, noted the harmonization of product standards has expanded the East African Community [EAC] trade basket. Encouraging results achieved over the past year, including investments in key ports have resulted in reduced cargo transit times on East Africa’s main transport corridors, and accelerated implementation of the EAC’s Single Customs Territory. • Reduction of average time to clear goods at Kenya’s Mombasa port and transport them to Kampala, Uganda to 4-days has buoyed the investments in the EAC region. • Reduction in the number of customs declarations by 90% leading to an increase in trade volumes Mombasa port serves Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, eastern DR Congo and Southern Sudan. Poor infrastructure, delays in cargo clearance and customs procedures at the port contribute to the high cost of doing business along the transport corridor. As such traders from the landlocked states had threatened to dump the northern corridor for an alternative route through Tanzania, citing port inefficiency and corruption on Kenyan roads. The ongoing infrastructure upgrades at the port would ensure increased capacity to handle growing volumes and associated demand for port services. The report details TMEA’s vision of enhancing interconnectedness in the region through trade by highlighting some of the successful projects they have supported. Notable among these is the recent signing of the Mombasa Port Community Charter, witnessed by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, 25 government and private sector agencies who committed to support initiatives that will increase efficiency at the Mombasa port and the Northern Corridor. [Shanghai Daily 26/03/15] TMEA Funding: Announces US$90 Million for East Africa’s Infrastructure TradeMark East Africa [TMEA] is to inject US$90 million [Shs 261bn] to promote infrastructural development projects in the region. The announcement came after data showed that regional trade had picked up partly as a result of the ease with which cargo is cleared throughout the different corridors, an initiative that TMEA was active in facilitating. TMEA has partnered EAC since 2011. The 5-partner states of EAC are currently involved in activities related to standards harmonisation for products traded with the region. TMEA supports regional harmonisation of standards which has seen 108 standards harmonized to date, 41 of which were adopted as EAC standards as of December 2013, and an additional 42 to be considered soon. This brings the total number of adopted East African Standards to 83, representing 7 of the 20 most traded intra-EAC goods, which accounts for more than US$1bn of the annual trade basket in the region. [Observer 01/04/15] 9 Namibia/Zambia/DRC Experts Address Development Corridor Issues The 8th Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Development Corridor Tripartite Technical Committee meeting was held in Zambia in March. Public and private sector senior officials from Namibia, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC] attended. Technical experts identified possible solutions to increase the efficiencies of the corridor to ensure the smooth movement of goods along the corridor, and as such increase cargo volumes. The corridor provides the shortest trade route between Walvis Bay and the vital transport hubs of Livingstone, Lusaka and Ndola in Zambia, Lubumbashi and Harare in Zimbabwe. The corridor allows 3-4 days in transit to and from Lusaka, Harare and five to seven days into Lubumbashi. Amongst the issues discussed at the meeting were high transit charges among member states, congestion at border posts, customs bond and the issuing of 12 month visas to commercial drivers at border posts. Experts have agreed to ensure a confirmed commitment to address and reduce bottlenecks along the entire corridor by 50% by June 2017. They have also agreed to establish a permanent secretariat of the corridor as well as initiate the spatial development initiative along the corridor by June 2016. In addition, the meeting agreed to establish working groups at Wenela/Katima Mulilo border post between Zambia and Namibia and Kasumbalesa border post between Zambia and DRC. The DRC is currently the only country that has ratified the tripartite agreement on the corridor. Both the Namibian and Zambian governments have been urged to ratify the agreement before August this year. [Namibian 25/03/15] Namibia Guide To Walvis Bay Corridor Launched The Walvis Bay Corridor Group has launched ‘A Guide To The Walvis Bay Corridor.” The guide highlights the key elements that make up the Walvis Bay Corridor and serves as an important overview and introductory document to potential and existing corridor users. In addition, the publication provides stakeholders with general information of the corridor, members of the group, the Public Private Partnership set-up of the WBCG, as well as other relevant information for users of the Walvis Bay corridor such as customs documentation and paperwork; transport, port and railway information as well as shipping lines and routes which assist in ensuring efficient transport of cargo along the corridor. [Namibian 01/04/15] 10 EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRIDOR NEWS Rwanda Importers Demand Own Cargo Area at Mombasa Port Despite the endeavour by EAC heads of state to advocate for the removal of all trade barriers on the so-called Northern Corridor, Rwandan importers are still crying over what they consider as trade barrier at Mombasa port. Traders say goods clearance at the port is still a big problem and requires urgent interventions if the free movement of goods on Northern corridor is to become a reality. The Rwanda Private Sector Federation observed that Rwandan cargo spends unnecessarily long periods awaiting to be verified by the port authority and noted the need for a separate space for goods to undergo verification. Despite the implementation of Single Customs Territory at the port where Rwandan clearing agents and customs are based, according to traders, there still challenges. According to statistics 40% of Rwandan import and exports pass through the Kenyan port. Part of the problem could be a result of growing volumes of goods. The Port of Mombasa recorded a total cargo throughput of 24,875 million in 2014 compared with 22,307 million tons handled in 2013 up 11.5%. In 2014, the port handled 1,012,002 TEUs against 894,000 TEUs in 2013 up 13.2%. The port recorded a total transit traffic of 7,199,140 tons in 2014 against 6,709,236 tons in 2013 up 7.3%. This was as a result of increased handling of Ugandan cargo by 609,830 tons or 12.4%. The Rwanda Shippers Council said Rwandan traders need help from KPA noting a lack of access to the Automated Customs Systems, inadequate security instruments, and multiple customs authorities administering the single customs territory. Rwanda destined cargo handled at the Mombasa port declined last year as a result of traders diverting to Dar port in Tanzania. Up to 60% of Rwanda’s cargo now goes through Tanzania. Mombasa port handled a total of 235,912 tons in 2014 against 240,099 tons in 2013, posting a marginal decrease of 4,187 tons or 1.7%. This performance represents 3.3% market share of the transit traffic. Whereas Uganda’s traffic increased by 609,803 tons [12.4%] up from 4,912,316 tons in 2013 to 5,522,119 tons in 2014. The Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director Gichiri Ndua promised the necessary support to provide the permanent solution to all the existing challenges hindering Rwandan traders at the port. He concurred with traders that there are still barriers and pledged immediate interventions to ensure free movement of regional cargos. [Independent 29/03/15] 11 200 Rwandan Containers Face Mombasa Auction Rwandan importers who are yet to collect what Kenyan authorities describe as long-stayed cargo from the port of Mombasa risk having their merchandise auctioned off after an April 15 deadline. The announcement was made on March 18 by Gichiri Ndua, the Managing Director of Kenya Port Authority [KPA]. The port handled over a million containers last year and is in dire need of the prime yard space. “ In the spirit of supporting business growth in East Africa, the government of Kenya has given a full waiver for collection of specific long-stay containers at the Port until the stipulated deadline of 15th April 2015. Cargo on transit is normally given 9-days upon arrival at the port during which no charges are incurred to allow their owners to make the necessary clearances through the port. ” Gichiri Ndua Kenya first announced the 100% waiver which is meant to encourage cargo owners to collect their goods, during the 8th Northern Corridor Integration Projects summit that took place in Nairobi in December last year. The summit directed that cargo overstayed at the port shall be granted full waiver of customs warehouse rent as well as port demurrage charges to facilitate their removal within 60 days from date of publication. [New Times 22/03/15] Standards Agency Launches Web Portal To Ease Transactions Individuals and firms seeking services from the Rwanda Standards Board will no longer be required to make multiple trips to the agency’s offices, following the launch of an information portal that allows the public to access the services online. The portal, developed over 3-years with the support of Trademark East Africa [TMEA], seeks to reduce time taken to disseminate information as well as different operations such as standard development processes, application for certification and testing and certification services, among others. Details available online at www.rsb.gov.rw [New Times 27/03/15] Tanzania Central Corridor Roadblocks & Checks Reduced Measures are being taken to reduce road blocks on the Tanzania side of the Central Corridor. Police check points have been reduced from 15 points to 6 and the Tanzania Revenue Authority has also reduced checks from 3 to zero. The revenue authority would further reduce the weighbridges from 8 to 3 and to introduce weigh in motion technology. One such weighbridge is already installed in Vigwaza with another two on the way to Manyoni and Nyakahura. With the current improvements alone, for a container to move from the port of Dar es Salaam to Kigali takes 3-days from the previous 8-days. It takes 3.5-days to Bujumbura from the previous 8-days. [EA Business Week 22/03/15] 12 EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRIDOR NEWS Uganda Export Earnings See 6% Growth Uganda earned more money from its exports during Q4 2014 compared to Q3 2014. Bank of Uganda [BOU] figures show US$662.94m earnings up from the US$622.13 up 6%. Improved performance was attributed to growth in earnings of tea, fish, tobacco, hides and skins, and oil re-exports. Tobacco exports shot up to US$36.6m in Q4 up from US$5.6m the previous 3-months up 500%. Fish exports increased by 38% in the same period. Meanwhile central bank figures show coffee, one of the country’s biggest exports, performed poorly dropping 7% to US$89.94m earned in Q4 2014, down from $97m earned in Q3 2014. Earnings from flowers fell by a 21% in the same period. The slight increase in earnings could have partly been supported by the weakening shilling. A weak local currency supports exports as the products are sold in dollars. The Uganda shilling has depreciated against the dollar faster than the other regional currencies such as the Rwanda franc. Last year alone, the shilling lost 14% of its value against the dollar. The local currency has already traded above Shs 3,000 to the dollar, its weakest point in years. The BOU noted problems in regional markets had widened the current account deficit. One of Uganda’s biggest export markets remains South Sudan, but the skirmishes that hit the country for the most part of 2014 led to a dip in exports. South Sudan, however, remains one of Uganda’s main export market, bringing in US$69m in Q4 up from $52m during the same period in 2013. Kenya still leads the pack as Uganda’s main export market. Rwanda and DR Congo follow closely. DR Congo tops as the destination for Uganda’s informal exports. [Observer 30/03/15] FACTBOX: Uganda Cargo Boosts Mombasa, Kenya Trade Volumes Mombasa Volumes • • Total cargo throughput 24.875 million up from 22.307 million tons previously. Increased: 11.5% 2014 total transit traffic was 7.2 million tonnes against 6.7 million tonnes in 2013. Increased: 7.3% Uganda Transit Via Mombasa • • Ugandan consignments rose 610,000 tonnes from 4.9 million tonnes to 5.52 million tons in 2014 Uganda is leader in transit cargo via Mombasa: 74% market share Zimbabwe Exports To Grow 3% In 2015 – Zimtrade Zimbabwe’s exports for 2015 are expected to recover by 3.2%, after declining by nearly 13% in 2013. Yet output of primary commodities is likely to remain weak with the manufacturing sector underperforming, according to a report jointly compiled by Zimtrade and leading think tank Zimbabwe Economic Policy Analysis Research Unit [Zeparu]. Exports generated US$3.1 billion against imports of US$6.4 billion last year. Recovery is led by agriculture and mining despite poor prices. Last year, exports were mainly driven by tobacco [excluding cigarettes] [26.4% of total exports]. Unwrought and semi-processed gold [17.4%] and diamonds [7.6%] were also significant exports. Other minerals which were exported as ore and concentrates, nickel, copper, lead, zinc, tin, chromium, tungsten, antimony among others, constituted 11.9% of the foreign sales. Of the imports, fuel and lubricants constituted 23.2%, vehicles and accessories 8.1% while fertiliser and maize imports constituted 4.2% and 2.1%. [New Zimbabwe 26/03/15] 13 EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA DRY PORTS & OSBP Botswana Dry Port Links Botswana With World Botswana’s dry port in Walvis Bay, Namibia, has increased accessibility for Botswana nationals linking them to international markets, according to the Ministry of Transport. Botswana has witnessed a steady increase in imports and exports including vehicles and general cargo as the corridor develops promoting regional economic growth. The Walvis Bay Corridors efficiency continues to increase because of the unique Public Private Partnership [PPP] existing between Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, which have been instrumental to identify and resolve hurdles to trade along the corridors. Furthermore Botswana Railways [BR] through Sea Rail Botswana, a subsidiary company in Namibia, aims to consolidate maritime goods into intermodal and long distance transport flows and also improve cargo processing through coordinated operations to facilitate collection and distribution of local, regional and international transport. The Botswana Dry Port is integrating Botswana and the SADC region with Walvis Bay Port and strengthens multi-modal solutions and create opportunities for new services and also reduce total transport and logistics costs as well as journey time. [Daily News 26/03/14] 14 EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA ROAD Botswana/Zambia Botswana And Zambia Receive Financing For Bridge The Botswana and Zambia Governments have received financing from the African Development Bank [AfDB] and Japan International Cooperation Agency [JICA] toward the cost of the construction of the Kazungula Bridge Project, and intends to apply part of the agreed amount for Financial Audit and Technical Audit Services to include: • • • Kazungula bridge and approach ramps Botswana One Stop Border [OSBP] facilities Zambia One Stop Border [OSBP] facilities. [AfDB 30/03/15] Kenya Kenya Seeks US$1.3 Billion To Upgrade Highways Kenya plans on upgrading the Mombasa-Nairobi [A109] and Nairobi-Nakuru [A104] highway sections to a dual-carriage road, and is planning to market the project to raise the US$1.3bn needed for the projects from foreign financiers and commercial banks through a public private partnership [PPP] model. The packaging and marketing of the project has been delegated to transaction advisors who have been tasked to work on the tendering processes, undertaking feasibility studies and also assisting the government in procurement work. They will market the road projects to potential concessionaires in the international markets. The Nairobi-Nakuru highway transaction advisors are Intercontinental Consultants and Technocrats [ICT] Ltd from India and PricewaterhouseCoopers[PwC] will handle the Mombasa-Nairobi highway. [Construction Review 30/03/15] 15 Mozambique Mega Beira-Zimbabwe Road Project Starts The mega road project involving upgrading of Mozambique’s Beira-Zimbabwe road has kicked off with the start of construction of a second 250m bridge over River Pungue. Construction of the bridge will help form a link between the districts of Dondo and Nhamatanda in central Sofala province, Mozambique. The bridge construction was awarded to Chinese contractor Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Corporation [AFECC]. The bridge will have 2-lanes. The contractor will also see through the rehabilitation and upgrading of a 288 km road between Beira port and Machipanda border town with neighbouring Zimbabwe. The Machipanda -Inhamizua link road is designed to have 2-lanes while the Inhamizua-Beira 4-lanes. [Construction Review Online 08/04/15] US$10.9 Million To Revamp EN4 Motorway South Africa’s Trans-African Concessions [TRAC] is to invest US$10.9 million in rehabilitating 7km of the motorway in the municipality of Matola in Mozambique. TRAC operates the EN4 motorway from Maputo port to the South African industrial town of Witbank on a 30-year lease contract. This stretch of the 570km toll motorway is in very poor condition. TRAC blames the problem on overloaded trucks which continue to disrespect weight limits. The highway is one of the busiest routes in Southern Africa and has played a pivotal role in improving cross-border co-operation between South Africa and Mozambique. The route is one of the main access roads into Maputo. Every day around 48,000 vehicles pass through the toll gate at the Maputo end. [Star Africa 21/03/15] 16 EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA ROAD Mozambique’s 5-Year Road Plan The government of Mozambique plans to pave 2,100km of roads by 2019, according to the 2015-2019 Five-Year Plan which entails asphalting an annual average of 420km. This is down by 180km compared to last year. The government also plans to repair 2,800km of roads, an annual average of 560km, double that recorded in 2014. Plans include construction, repair and maintenance of 57 bridges. [Macauhub 19/03/15] Priority Projects Project Catembe-Ponta Do Ouro Road N6 Road Maputo Ring Road N13 Niassa Province Nacala Corridor III N104 Tica-Buzi-Nova Road Cost [US$M] $725.8 $433 $298.84 $261 $150.19 $75.4 $149.72 Details Construction of the Maputo-Catembe suspension bridge with Chinese funding Repairs between Machipanda and Beira, in the provinces of Manica and Sofala. Funded by China. Funded by China Linking the towns of Cuamba, Mandimba and Lichinga. To be financed by the African Development Bank [AfDB] and the Japan International Cooperation Agency [JICA]. AfDB/JICA to build the road linking Much, Madimba and Lichinga in northern Mozambique. Construction of road along the Nampula-Nametil section with funding from South Korea. Rehabilitation of the road linking Tica, Buzi and Nova in the province of Sofala with India as a financier. World Bank Gives US$73.6 Million For Road Rehabilitation The World Bank has announced that it will give US$73.6m for rehabilitation of roads and bridges in Mozambique. The loan will also fill the financial gap for road rehabilitation related to floods in Southern Gaza Province, after flooding of the Limpopo River Basin in 2013. Over 2,200 km of roads – 70% of the regions road– were damaged during the 2013 floods. [Construction Review Online 08/04/15] CFM Seek Funding For Rail Development Mozambican port and railway company Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique [CFM] plans to raise US$2.3 billion to finance the integrated development plan of national rail and port facilities. Studies are underway to prepare the Project for Rehabilitation, Modernisation and Expansion of the Machipanda line, for drafting the project for modernisation and expansion of the Sena line, the Vila Nova da Fronteira branch line and the technical feasibility, economic and environmental studies for the expansion the Oil Terminal at the port of Beira. [Macauhub 13/04/15] Namibia Chinese Complete Construction Of MR25 The Main Road 25 [MR 25] built at a cost of 872 million Namibian dollars [UIS$70 million] by a Chinese company in the northeast Zambezi region of Namibia was inaugurated on 13th March by President Hifikepunye Pohamba. The project involved the Chinese company MCC in partnership with the Roads Contractor Company with funding from the Namibian government. Stretching for 209 km, it is the longest road constructed after Namibia’s independence. The road connects the Wenela border post between Botswana and Namibia and Ngoma border post between Namibian and Botswana.In addition, the road will connect the Trans-Zambezi Highway that forms part of the Walvis Bay-Ndola Lubumbashi Corridor. In Namibia, the road links Liselo-Linyanti-Sangwali-Kongola and Singalamwe. [Forum On Africa-China Cooperation 15/03/15] 17 South Africa N1 / N4 Toll Route To See R5 Billion Upgrade The Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire has announced plans to inject over R5-billion [US$425 million] into the rehabilitation and upgrade of the N1 and N4 toll road over the next 15 years as it reaches the midway mark of its 30-year concession with the South African National Roads Agency Limited [Sanral]. Bakwena was tasked by Sanral in 2001 to manage, maintain and upgrade the 385km route. Bakwena, which was responsible for the upkeep and toll collection, besides others, of a 90km stretch on the N1 from Pretoria to Bela Bela and the 285km N4 route from Pretoria through to the Botswana border, would complete the current R3.68-billion [US$312 million] upgrade and rehabilitation programme during 2018/19. Traffic on the routes see a steadily climb of 3% p.a. Bakwena will, this year, spend R110-million [US$9 million] on improvements and upgrades on the N1 and R149-million [US$12 million] on the N4, with the continuation of rehabilitation work on 20 km of the N4 from Zeerust to Groot Marico, the start of resealing the N4 from Helen Joseph to the Marikana interchange and from the Brits interchange to Soshanguve. There were also plans to add an additional carriageway between Bapong and Marikana and rehabilitate the road between Rustenburg and Swartruggens on the N4. Additional work extended into this year included the upgrade of Sefako Makgatho Drive, in Zambezi, into a diverging diamond interchange on the N1 to relieve the capacity constraints at the interchange terminals. The Doornpoort Plaza would also see improvements as Bakwena progresses construction of 4-reversible lanes. This would allow for 28% more capacity on the N4 route upon completion at the end of May. Bakwena said it would also complete the R275-million [US$23 million] rehabilitation of the N1 section from Pienaarsrivier to the Bela Bela interchange by June. In December 2014, the group completed the R130-million [US$11 million] upgrade of the N1 between the Zambezi interchange to the Pumulani Plaza, with a third lane added and the Zambezi Bridge widened to accommodate the 3-lanes in both directions. An additional 32 km of the N4 route between Tshwane and Rustenburg was also widened into a dual carriageway. The building of a second carriageway with bridges on the N4 between the Brits West Interchange [R512] and the Buffelspoort Interchange was completed in November at a cost of around R380-million, while the R200-million rehabilitation of the road between Swartruggens and Rustenburg on the N4 was completed by December 2014. [Engineering News 18/03/15] 18 EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA ROAD Zambia Funds Released For Copperbelt & Lusaka Roads Funds have been released under ‘Lusaka 400’ for road infrastructure development by the National Road Fund Agency [NRFA] and will be allocated as follows: Copperbelt Province [400km] K487 million • • • • • Lusaka Province K632 million • • Maintenance of Ndola to Kapiri Mposhi Road and Ndola-Kitwe Dual Carriage Way. Techno-economic study, detailed engineering design and tender preparation for the upgrading to Dual Carriageway of the Chingola to Chililabombwe/Kasumbalesa Road and Chingola to Solwezi/Mutanda Road. Design/supervision of Mungwi Road to link to the Lusaka-Mongu Road at Situmbeko. Rehabilitation of the Great East Road from Arcades to Airport Junction. Upgrading of the Great East Road at Chongwe District Hospital to Katoba Basic School. Upgrading of Leopards Hill Road from Katoba to Chiwa. Design/supervision for Zambezi Road Extension and loop from Caltex to Great North Road. [Times of Zambia 29/03/15] Upgrade Of Bottom Road Advances Upgrading of 100km to bituminous standard of the Bottom road stretching between Sinazongwe and Siavonga districts in Southern Province has advanced. The road is of economic importance as it links towns and settlements in the Lower Zambezi, starting with Siavonga via Chaanga to Munyumbwe and Gwembe before connecting to Sinazongwe to Livingstone. The upgrading is under the ambitious Link Zambia 8000 project launched by the late President Sata in 2012. [Daily Mail 24/03/15] Zimbabwe Bulawayo Needs US$115 Million For Road Rehabilitation Bulawayo requires at least US$115 million for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the roads neglected for many years in the city. About 354 km of roads require immediate attention. The Zimbabwe National Roads Administration [ZINARA] has already disbursed US$200,000 to the local authority towards the road construction initiatives. [Construction Review 30/03/15] Construction Of Wedza And Sadza Road Acting President Mphoko has commissioned construction of a 40km road project in Wedza District as part of Zim Asset, the nation’s economic blue print. The project will cost US$22m and includes the building of Save River bridge to help establish a link between Wedza and Sadza. The project is part of the Government’s initiative to construct and renovate 1,100km of main roads over the next 3-years. [Construction Review 30/03/15] 19 EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA RAIL Kenya/Uganda Rift Valley Railways Getting Back On Track Four years after the restructuring of the Kenya-Uganda Railway concession, Rift Valley Railways [RVR] announced in March that it had achieved all 3-Key Performance Indicators agreed with the 2-governments when the current shareholders took over. The first 2-targets involved clearing the outstanding concession fees and ensuring that future fees were paid on a timely basis, and investing US$40m in infrastructure and rolling stock over the first 5-years. In fact, the spending target was achieved within 9-months, and RVR says its total investment ‘now stands at over US$150m. The most challenging target has been to boost the volume of freight traffic using the 1,000mm gauge railway. In Q1 2014, the governments gave RVR 9-months to achieve 1,737 million net tonne-km in Kenya and 250 million in Uganda, which has now been reached. By achieving the milestone proves the railway is tangibly turning around. When the current shareholders took over the concession 4-years ago no significant investments had been made in the railway in almost 25 years. Since then, RVR has replaced over 140 km of track and acquired 34 locomotives to increase haulage capacity. With improved train speeds the average transit time between Mombasa and Kampala has been cut from 12 days to 4 and if bureaucratic processes are reduced this could be further reduced to just 2-days. The improved reliability and performance ‘have brought renewed confidence in the Kenya-Uganda Railway as a viable means of transport. RVR has signed contracts with several multinational companies who are now moving a significant amount of heavy freight by rail, helping to reduce pressure on East Africa’s overburdened roads. [Railway Gazette 28/03/15] Mozambique CFM Rail Growth At 25% Mozambican state port and rail management company Caminhos de Ferro de Mocambique [CFM] in the last 6-months has experienced average growth of 25% in the rail sector and 22% in the port sector. Operating result in 2014 totalled US$75 million up 41% compared to 2013. CFM noted that cargo handling in the terminals under the company’s management – fuel, grains and aluminium – last year reached 5.8 million tons, an annual growth of 3%. The government has expressed a desire for CFM to the begin railway operations linking Moatize to Nacala-a-Velha, through Malawi, and for repair to the Cuamba/Lichinga section of railway to be completed. Meanwhile, CFM is completing repair work and increasing the capacity of the Sena and Machipanda lines, which is expected to boost the local economy and increase trade between Mozambique and neighbouring Zimbabwe. The government is also waiting for implementation of the project for Rehabilitation, Modernisation and Expansion of the Ressano Garcia Line and Maputo and Matola ports. [Macauhub 09/04/15] Namibia Goods Stranded As Railway Washed Away TransNamib Holdings confirmed that part of its rail network north of Mariental, between Hardap and Salzbrunn stations, was washed away due to the recent heavy rains leaving goods stranded. As a result, train movements have been adversely affected. [New Era 07/04/15] 20 EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA RAIL Tanzania Country To Spend US$14 Billion On Railways Tanzania plans to spend US$14.2 billion to construct a new rail network in the next 5-years financed with commercial loans, the transport minister said, as the country aims to become a regional transport hub. Oil discoveries in Kenya and Uganda and gas finds in Tanzania have turned east Africa into an exploration hotspot for oil firms but transport infrastructure in those countries has suffered from decades of under-investment. The railway network would meet the huge demand for the transportation of cargo to land-locked neighbouring countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC], Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda as well as domestic needs. The projects include constructing a 2,561km standard gauge railway connecting the port at the commercial capital of Dar es Salaam to Tanzania’s land-locked neighbours, Rwanda and Burundi at a cost of US$7.6 billion. Two additional lines, to cost US$6.6 billion, would connect Dar es Salaam to the coal, iron ore and soda ash mining areas in the south and northern parts of the country. The projects would be financed by commercial loans from a consortium of banks under a 20-year repayment period, though he did not name the banks. The government has named Rothschild as financial advisor to help secure the financing. However, Kenya is already building a multi-billion-dollar standard gauge rail line, backed by China, to run from Mombasa to the border with Uganda, aimed at cutting the hefty costs of trade in the region. [Reuters 30/03/15] 21 South Africa Transnet Completes 95 Electric Locomotives Transnet has completed assembling 95 electrical locomotives in collaboration with partners CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotives Company. The R2.7 billion [US$230 million] contract is part of its long-term fleet renewal programme. President Jacob Zuma attended the unveiling of the 95th electric locomotive which was assembled at Transnet’s engineering Koedoespoort Plant in Tshwane. The launch set a platform for Transnet to deliver on the acquisition of 1,064 locomotives, which it announced last year to advance government’s objective of shifting the transportation of goods from road to rail. In May, Transnet received approval to begin the manganese expansion project which would provide the necessary rail and port infrastructure for the programme. Up to 25% of the volumes required were reserved for emerging and junior miners. [Times Live 19/03/15] Uganda Chinese US$3.2 Billion Rail Plan China has agreed to finance a US$3.2 billion railway project for a 476km line connecting Kampala via Malaba to Nimule in South Sudan. The Engineering Procurement Construction contract for the Eastern and Northern Standard Gauge Railway Network project is being handled by China Harbour Engineering Company Limited. Construction of a Standard Gauge Railway was agreed upon by Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan as an essential infrastructure project for the Northern Corridor. On completion, the new line will connect Mombasa to Malaba then onward to Kampala, Kigali and Juba. Works have already started from Mombasa for the Kenya portion also with Chinese financing. [East African Business Week 05/04/15] 22 WESTERN AFRICA CORRIDOR NEWS Angola/Namibia Countries To Construct 3-International Bridges Angola and Namibia will build 3-bridges over the River Cubango to facilitate the movement of people and goods between the two countries and strengthen bilateral trade relations. The bridges will link the Angolan cities of Cala, Dirico and Cuangar to Rundu, Namibia Nyangana and Nkurenkuru in the Okavango region of Namibia. [Macauhub/AO 30/03/15] Cote d’Ivoire/Guinea/Liberia Mano River Union Transport Program A general procurement notice has been issued for the multinational Cote d’Ivoire/Guinea/Liberia road development and transport facilitation programme within the Mano River Union [MRU/RDTFP] after securing loans from the African Development Bank [AfDB] – namely the African Development Fund [ADF] and Transition Support Facility [TSF]. [AfDB 30/03/15] Cote d’Ivoire • • • Guinea • • • Paving Lola-Côte d’Ivoire border road [39.75 km] Development of 3 km of urban roads in Lola Construction of Joint Border Post [JBP] at the Cote d’Ivoire / Guinea border. Liberia • • Paving of Karloken-Fish Town road [80 km] and Harper Junction-Cavalla [16 km]; Construction of a Joint Border Post [JBP] on Côte d’Ivoire / Liberia Border on Tabou- Harper road corridor. Construction of the Cavalla Bridge. • 23 Paving of Danane-Guinea Border roads [47.6 km], Bloléquin-Toulépleu-Liberia border [65 km] and Tabou- Cavalla Bridge/Liberia border [28 km] Construction of Joint Border Post [JBP] on the border of Guinea / Cote d’Ivoire Construction of the Cavalla Bridge which the straddles the Côte d’Ivoire-Liberia border on the TabouHarper highway. WESTERN AFRICA ROAD Gambia Gambia Inaugurates Basse-Sabi Road Gambia has launched the Basse Bypass-Sabi road rehabilitation and construction project, which is funded by European Union [EU] in support of the National Gambia Transport Plan. Total cost is US$83m to cover the construction and rehabilitation of 273km including the Basse Bypass-Sabi road amongst others - this constitute 50% of national paved roads. The Basse BypassSabi road affords easy access to Velingara, Senegal. [Construction Review 08/04/15] National Transport Plan Project • Rehabilitation, upgrading and maintenance of 5 main trunk roads: Barra-Amdallai, Soma-Basse and Basse-Vellingara [with the portion of road between Sabi-Vellingara in Senega], Mandinaba-Seleti, and the Trans-Gambia road • Technical Assistance to the National Road Authority [NRA] for the setting-up of a Road Fund for network preservation and maintenance. • Enhances regional integration and trade. Ghana Regional Capitals Road Expansion On Course President John Dramani Mahama noted the Government’s Regional Road Upgrading Programme is progressing to facilitate socio-economic activities. Under the programme the Government is sponsoring the upgrading of all roads in the regional capitals, after which it would be extended to Municipal and district capital roads. Roads are a panacea to socio-economic development and his Administration would continue to invest in the sector. [Ghana Web 29/03/15] Liberia Red Light-Guinea Road Construction Progressing Construction works on the US$250m Red Light-Gbarnga-Guinea border highway in Liberia is progressing well and will boost economy once complete. Work is being undertaken by China International Corporation [CICO] and the China Henan International Corporation Group [CHICO]. The country also announced it would soon start off rehabilitation of the Somalia Drive [Gardnersville Road]. [Construction Review 31/03/15] Mali Borderless Alliance Workshop On Professionalizing The Trucking Industry The Borderless Alliance has conducted a workshop on professionalizing the trucking industry in Bamako, Mali. The main objective of this workshop was to share best practices and identify the needs in terms of building the capacities of transporters. Forty nine participants attended the workshop including Government representatives, transporters and partners including USAID Mali. Key topics discussed at the 1-day workshop included best practices in trucking industry; legal framework of road transport sector in Mali; opportunities with USAID West Africa Trade Hub and capacity building and financing needs for the trucking industry. [Borderless Alliance 24/03/15] 24 WESTERN AFRICA RAIL Angola GE Group Supplies 100 Locomotives GE Transportation, of US group General Electric, announced on March 26 that it will provide 100 C30ACi locomotives to Angola under a contract signed with the Angolan National Railway Institute [INCFA] to increase Angola’s rail capacity. The 6-axle locomotives with 12-cylinder diesel and 3000 horsepower engines will be built at the company’s facility in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, with delivery expected to take place over 3-years from 2016. [Macauhub 310/3/15] Benin/Niger Bollore Finalises Terms Of €1 Billion Rail Project Niger and Benin have signed a deal to finalise the terms of the construction and operation of a railway linking Niamey, Niger, with the port of Cotonou, Benin. The line is expected to be finished in the middle of 2016. French firm Bollore will cover the entire €1.07 billion cost of building the rail link. Bollore will own a 40% stake in the operator BENI rail, in which the 2-countries will each own 10%. The remaining stake will be owned by private investors from Niger and Benin. Work began in April 2014 on a 574 km railway to join Niamey to the eastern Benin town of Parakou, which has an existing rail link to Cotonou. The line is expected to carry mostly freight, with passengers accounting for 20% of its activity. Bollore could also be awarded a concession in the coming weeks to build a rail link from Niger to the capital of neighbouring Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou. The link would form part of a planned 2,800 km network joining up Ivory Coast, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger. [Reuters 07/04/15] Railway Project Formally Launched Benin President Boni Yayi and his Nigerien counterpart Mahamadou Issoufou formally launched the upgrading of the 437km Cotonou-Parakou railway in a ceremony at Cotonou Central station on March 19, marking the start of work on a US$1.6 billion project. The second phase of the project will extend the metre-gauge line 137km north from the railhead at Parakou to the border at Gaya. The line will later be extended a further 426km to reach Niger’s capital Niamey, where a station has already been constructed. The project is being implemented by Bolloré Africa Logistics, a subsidiary of French logistics company Bolloré Group. Bolloré already operates public service concessions in Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso through its subsidiary, the Société Internationale de Transport Africain par Rail [SITARAIL]. Ultimately it is planned to link the line to the proposed West Africa Railway, which will connect Niamey with Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso and Abidjan in Ivory Coast. Construction was due to begin on this project last year, but lack of financing has delayed the start of work. [International Railway Journal 20/03/15] 25 DRC/Zambia Rail ZRL/Firm Ink Deal Zambia Railways Limited [ZRL] and the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer du Congo [SNCC] have entered into a business agreement to increase cargo movement between the 2-countries. The agreement shares the amount of cargo that will be moving from DRC, through Zambia to South Africa. Currently ZRL only manages to move 3,000 tonnes of cargo per month which is not enough cargo considering the amount of cargo that moves by road between the 2-nations. It aims to increase this to 15,000 tonnes. Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa met on April 1 to discuss possible ways in which DRC can provide more cargo for transportation via railway, to the region. Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer du Congo noted its commitment to improving services and has embarked on rehabilitation of the railway line in Lubumbashi and Sakanya towns and also to settle the debt it owes ZRL. [Zambia Times 25/03/15] 26
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