C.E.E.A.C E.C.C.A.S COMMUNAUTE ECONOMIQUE DES ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF ETATS DE L’AFRIQUE CENTRALE CENTRAL AFRICAN STATES
GENERAL SECRETARIAT DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL, ECONOMIC AND MONETARY INTEGRATION (DIPEM)
PRESENTATION NOTE ON THE CONGO RIVER ROAD/RAIL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT BETWEEN KINSHASA AND BRAZZAVILLE, WITH EXTENSION OF THE KINSHASA – ILEBO RAILWAY
Location:
The Democratic Republic of Congo (2 344 885 Km2 and 60.6 million inhabitants) and the Republic of Congo (342 000 km2 and 3.8 million inhabitants) are both member countries of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) separated by the River Congo. Located on the two banks of the river, their respective capitals – Kinshasa (on the left bank) with nearly 8 million inhabitants and Brazzaville (on the right bank) with 1.2 million inhabitants – are the closest capital cities in the world.
Currently, the two capitals are linked by ferry and boat. With the population of Kinshasa and Brazzaville growing, traffic on the River Congo has increased to a point where the available transport infrastructure can no longer meet the demand.
Project Objectives:
The road/rail project will link the two cities. It will ensure the continuation of the Tripoli-Windhoek Trans-African Highway Corridor, the Central African trunk of which comprises the Cameroon-Chad-Congo-DRC-Angola link, supplemented by a feeder road connecting Bangui. The project is among the 14 priority projects under NEPAD’s Short-Term Action Plan in Central Africa. It is also listed among the priority operations of the first program under the Central African Consensual Master Plan on Transport (PDCT-AC) slated for short-term implementation. The road/rail infrastructure will further cement economic integration between the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and will help to diversify access routes to the sea.
Provision has been made to incorporate the extension of the railway to Ilebo (800 km distance) into this project. Doing so will link the Southern African and Central African rail networks as a prelude to connection with the North African network in the direction of Libya.
In addition, the project includes the development of the front end, especially the administrative zone, the warehouse zone, the commercial zone and infrastructure.
Some Project Characteristics:
The size of works will depend on the projected traffic between the two Congo and the international traffic that will cross the bridge. The norms and standards applicable will be the same as those used in the SADC zones, or those that will be approved by the AU within the proposed Durban harmonization framework. For indicatory purposes, the following may be noted:
Cross section Roadway: 2 lanes on either direction 1 path for cyclists 1 path for pedestrians Railway 1 track on either direction
Longitudinal section at least one span to allow for river navigation (head room taking the mast of vessels into account)
Method of Implementation:
It is planned that the infrastructure be built through public/private partnership. Following preliminary studies, competitive bidding will be launched.
Status of Implementation:
The Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, CEMAC and ECCAS have set up a Committee of Experts charged with monitoring and implementing the project. The Committee is in the process of finalizing the draft terms of reference of the study. The study will provide necessary input for selecting the project site, in addition to offering the institutional framework for its implementation. The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo have undertaken to sign a memorandum of understanding before early 2008 as a signal demonstrating to partners their joint desire to build this major infrastructure.
Estimated Schedule:
Short-term estimated schedule Adoption of the terms of reference January 2008 Signing of the memorandum of understanding February 2008 Signing of the preliminary studies financing agreement June 2008 Launching of bid invitation for the preliminary studies July 2008
Contacts
Jonas TAKODJOU David MBADINGA Transport Infrastructure Expert NEAPD Unit Coordinator PDCT-AC Focal Point Et EIRE Tel.: + 241 07 01 99 / 06 03 14 48 Tel.: +241 07 53 03 02/ 06 6948 91 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Jean Paul LIBEBELE Transport Infrastructure Expert Transport Infrastructure Point Tel.: +241 06 71 57 29/05 98 69 16 E-mail: [email protected]