Libya

Work on the first portion of a 3,170-kilometre desert railway line in Libya will begin in September, project sources say. A$470-million contract for the first 191 kilometres was awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction (CCEC) in late-February (MEED 17:3:00). Financing has been agreed in the 2000 budget.

In addition to laying track, the contract covers installation of signal facilities and other associated works. CCEC will source all engineers and technicians, skilled and unskilled, from China.

The CCEC contract is for the first part in a line of some 2,000 kilometres which will link the Tunisian and Egyptian borders. A second line of over 1,000 kilometres will run from the administrative capital of Sirte to Sebha.

The timing of future contracts depend on government funding allocations, says Mustafa Eshtaiwi, chairman of the Libyan Chinese Railway Joint Committee. CCEC will not be favoured, he adds. 'There will be more negotiations between us and the Chinese but we are still following the normal procedure for tendering.'

Bids for the role of project consultant will be invited by end-May.