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Feasibility studies on Tazara,Mpulungu link begin

Feasibility studies on Tazara,Mpulungu link begin
By Gift Chanda
Thu 13 Oct. 2011, 12:50 CAT

FEASIBILITY studies into the construction of a railway linking TAZARA railway line to Mpulungu port in Northern Province have commenced, says transport permanent secretary Dominic Sichinga.

Sichinga said experts from China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), a firm contracted to study the possibility of building a railway line in Northern Province, were currently on the ground accessing the terrain.

The government early this year signed three agreements with CCECC with one meant to facilitate the extension of Chipata-Mchinji railway line to Mpika via Petauke to be linked to TAZARA.

The other MoU was for a railway line covering a stretch of 1000 kilometres from Solwezi to Kasempa, Kaoma to Katima Mulilo up to Walvis Bay, Namibia.

The third agreement was for a railway line to cover Nseluka near Kasama in Northern Province link to Mpulungu port.

"By March we should have a report on whether to proceed with these developments," Sichinga said in an interview.

"We believe these are projects that will enhance the economic potential of our country."

He said the railway line in Northern Province once fully developed would open up the Mpulungu Port to greater trade volumes were low.

"Mpulungu is a gateway to the Great Lakes region...the port is the only navigable port we have in Zambia and it is shared by four other countries," he said.

"We believe this project will have benefits for Zambia and we would like them to be feasible."

Labels: DOMINIC SICHINGA, MPULUNGU, RAIL, TAZARA

posted by MrK @ 3:05 PM