Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Mozambican Government Studies Rail Link Between Maputo and Cabo Delgado

Mozambican government studies rail link between Maputo and Cabo Delgado

(2010-11-01) Transport and Communications Minister Paulo Zucula has indicated that 2011 will be a crucial year for the decision on a railway line linking the capital Maputo in the south to Cabo Delgado in the far north.

Zucula told the Noticias newspaper on Friday that the segment between Muturara and Mutuale is currently being negotiated. This line crosses Zambezia province and ends in Nampula linking the Nacala Corridor.

“If the oil projects come through in the north then it will be easy to negotiate a line from Mutuale to Mocimboa da Praia, because that’s where the line can be more viable,” he said.

By the end of 2011 “we’ll have the study on the line’s route, how much it will cost and the location of projects that will make it doable. Once this is done it’s easier to move forward,” Zucula said.

“There are already some memorandums of understanding and studies are currently under way in this regard. Last week a coal logistics meeting was held and some Chinese groups are very interested in that section. A group of Mozambicans with foreign partners is also interested. Our idea is to let the people with money do those projects,” the minister explained.

After the section between Mutuara and Mutuale the next connection to be studied will be the one linking Dondo to the Limpopo line and thence to Botswana.

SOURCE: MACAUHUB

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