The construction of a major railway in Ethiopia is about to be completed the The Ethiopian Railways Corporation has confirmed. The US$ 3.4bn Sebeta – Meiso- Dewele railway line is at 98 per cent.
ERC Communication Officer, Mr. Dereje Tefera confirmed the reports and said that development of the railway line which is being undertaken by two Chinese companies China Railway Engineering Corporation (CREC) and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) will measure 656 km and is expected to start pilot operations soon and go fully operational in the next Ethiopian year. “The new Sebeta – Meiso- Dewele railway line is almost complete at over 98 per cent and will commence full operations in the nest Ethiopian year,” said Mr. Tefera.
Currently, only 30 per cent of project is being financed by the government of Ethiopia and the balance is financed by the Chinese Exim Bank in loan and created temporary jobs to locals for over 16,000 citizens and when it becomes fully operational it is anticipated to create more jobs for up to 2,700 Ethiopians and Djiboutians.
Sebeta – Meiso Project Manager, Eng. Micheal Tefera also commented and said that when the project is fully complete, it will have an annual 10 million tonnes loading capacity and up to now, earthworks, bridges and railway line-bar fixing stands at 100 per cent complete and of railway stations is at 99 per cent. “Installation of earthworks, bridges and railway line-bars is currently complete while works on the signaling and communication is nearing completion with construction is well in progress on the link roads,” said Eng. Micheal Tefera.
CREC is a mega corporation group incorporating survey and design, construction and installation, industrial manufacturing, development in real estate, resources and mineral products, financial investment and other services headquartered in Beijing China. CCECC has been listed among the world’s top 100 international contractors for seventeen consecutive years by the Engineering News Record.
Extract from constructionreviewonline.com
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