Negotiations are still in progress between the Egyptian government and Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) on the funding package for the first phase of Cairo Metro Line 4.

“The value of financing to be provided [by Jica] has not been finalised … negotiations are ongoing,” a source familiar with the scheme tells MEED, citing that a deal is likely to be reached in the second half of the year.

The first phase of Line 4 is estimated to cost $4bn.

The source declined to comment if Jica is likely to agree to finance the majority of the project.

Four packages for the first phase of Cairo Metro Line 4 are under procurement.

The first civil works package is to be awarded imminently to a team comprising Japan’s Taisei Corporation and local firm Orascom Construction, the sole bidder. The same team submitted a bid for the second civil works package, which is undergoing technical evaluation.

Two Japanese firms – Sojitz Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation – are expected to submit bids for the rolling stock package on 16 May.

Four groups sought to prequalify and are expected to bid for the systems contract by 10 June. They include:

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

NAT awarded Nippon Koei the consultancy contract for the scheme in October 2016.

Line 4 will be constructed in two phases and will run for 43 kilometres from west to east Cairo.

It will connect 6th October and the New Cairo satellite cities with the existing metro network, catering to areas including Al-Ahram, Faisal, Giza, Nasr City and Al-Azhar University.

The first phase will have a total length of 18.8km and feature 17 stations. It will extend from the multimodal station west of the Ring Road to the Grand Egyptian Museum and on to El-Remayah Square to link with Giza station on Line 2, El-Malek el-Saleh station on Line 1, and to Al-Fustat station.