The Civil Engineering Contractor March 2019 | Page 14

INFRA AFRICA
A movable market, Jacqueville, Côte d’Ivoire, could
benefit from additional economic opportunities.
Nigeria’s latest international airport terminal.
WEST AFRICA WEST AFRICA
CÔTE D’IVOIRE NIGERIA
Power plant project in Côte d’Ivoire New airport terminal launched in Nigeria
A 390MW power plant is set to be constructed in the town
of Jacqueville near Abidjan, in Côte d’Ivoire. Called Atinkou,
the power plant is also known as Ciprel 5 in reference to
the four units of this power plant that has been operational
since 1994. It will use the gas-steam ‘combined cycle’
technology, which increases energy efficiency. Atinkou will
undertake a technological leap by introducing the first Class
F gas turbines in sub-Saharan Africa. These innovations will
allow the production of more electricity without additional
gas consumption. The cost of producing electrical energy
is optimised and the environment is preserved by reducing
CO 2 emissions into the atmosphere.
The plant is part of the country’s ambition to strengthen its
electricity production capacity through new units operated
by experienced private partners, to enable Côte d’Ivoire
to double its energy capacity to 4 000MW by 2020 and to
consolidate its position as an energy hub in the region. A
concession agreement for the financing, design, construction,
operation, and maintenance of a new power plant has been
signed between Côte d’Ivoire and Eranove Group. Nigeria has commissioned a new terminal at the Nnamdi
Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, which has a capacity
to process 15-million passengers a year and covering
approximately 56 000m 2 . The new terminal represents the
government’s commitment to developing Nigeria into a
regional air transportation hub and assuming its leadership in
the regional aviation subsector. The new terminal is the first
to be connected to the rail transport system in the country
and the region at large, providing the users with choice in the
mode of transport to and from the city centre.
The terminal also has 72 check-in counters, five baggage
collection carousels, and 28 immigration desks at arrival
and 16 at departure. Other facilities include eight security
screening points, eight passenger boarding bridges, a
walkway to link the FCT metro rail, and additional apron
for remote parking of aircraft, which were designed and laid
out in accordance with modern requirements for airport
operations. The idea is to ensure that travellers in and out of
the country have the best experience possible as a necessary
complement to the ultra-modern terminal.
SOUTHERN AFRICA
BOTSWANA
Botswana Railways courts investors
for P15-billion mega rail projects
Botswana Railways (BR), in collaboration with Botswana’s
major investment bodies, is looking for P15-billion worth
of investment in its ambitious railway infrastructure
development plan. Botswana is keen to evolve into a
high-income economy by taking advantage of available
natural resources and exploring possible partnership
models to develop industrial and labour-intensive sectors.
Infrastructure registers as one of the key imperatives in
achieving this.
12 | CEC March 2019
The multibillion-pula projects, if undertaken and effectively
delivered, would go a long way towards unlocking various
economic sectors, delivering higher GDP value, and
creating much-needed employment. The two projects are
the Mosetse–Kazungula and Mmamabula–Lephalale railways
links. These projects would accelerate development of
Botswana’s coal industry that is currently in its infancy
despite Botswana having coal resources estimated at over
200-billion tonnes of deposits underground.
The P13-billion Mosetse–Kazungula rail project is
positioned to provide a railway line from Mosetse in
Botswana, connecting to Zambia and beyond through the
Kazungula bridge. The rail line is part of the North–
South Corridor, being a gateway to North African markets,
promoting inter-regional trade, connecting the North
African region to maritime ports in South Africa, and
redicing haulage traffic on roads.
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