Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) are continuing detailed discussions pertaining the tranche applying to the financial structure for the initial phase of Cairo Metro’s Line 4.

“Discussions are ongoing on how to divide the required financing [between the client and Jica],” a source with knowledge of the project tells MEED.

According to the feasibility study undertaken by NAT in 2010, phase 1 of Cairo Metro Line 4 requires an investment of $4bn, of which Jica is understood to have agreed to provide $1.2bn in loan.

“I am not sure if those values determined 10 years ago still apply today,” the source tells MEED.

The first phase of Cairo Metro Line 4 has been structured into four packages that include two civil works packages and one package each for the rolling stock and electromechanical systems.

The first civil works package is to be imminently awarded to the sole bidder that comprises of a joint venture of Japan’s Taisei Corporation and local firm Orascom Construction.

The bid for the second civil works package is under technical evaluation. The Taisei/Orascom team is also the sole bidder for that contract.

On 16 May, NAT received a single bid, from Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation, for the rolling stock package.

The deadline for the electromechanical systems package has been extended to 31 July. Four groups sought to prequalify for the systems contract. They were:

• Mitsubishi/Orascom Construction
• Marubeni (Japan)
• Hitachi(Japan)/Sumitomo (Japan)
• Toyo (Japan)/Mitsui(Japan)