Kenya set to roll out showpiece rail project

Link promises benefits for African nation and will be completed ahead of schedule

Kenya has received the first batch of locomotives that will run on the $3.8 billion railway currently under construction in the country.

The consignment was handed over to the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, David Macharia, at Port Reitz in the coastal city of Mombasa by the contractors, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).

The minister says the event marks the near-completion of the Mombasa-Nairobi railway project, scheduled to be commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta on May 31.

"It is unheard of in Africa for projects of this magnitude to be completed ahead of schedule and without budget overruns. I compliment the commitment and dedication of CRBC and other supporting government agencies," he says. The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), largely financed by China Import Export Back, will be completed 18 months ahead of time.

The locomotives, four freight and two shunting diesel engines, were manufactured by China Railways Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) of Qishuyan, in Jiangsu Province. More than 50 engines, 1,620 freight wagons and 40 coaches will be delivered before May.

Questions on the longevity of the locomotives were addressed by the minister, who says due diligence was carried out in the procurement process.

"The locomotives were manufactured under strict quality supervision by government agencies and consultants, who were stationed at the manufacturing facilities to ensure that the end products meet our specifications," says Macharia.

He adds that the team of experts considered the best models in terms of technology, operations, maintenance and capacity to handle cargo and passenger operations in Kenya.

"The models are widely used in China and have been exported to other countries in Africa, Europe and Asia."

CRBC says CRRC Qishuyan boasts a 60 percent market share in China. The DF8B heavy-duty diesel locomotives and DF11 passenger locomotive are the highest scientific and technological achievement in the Chinese diesel locomotive industry, it says.

CRBC's Deputy General Manager Li Qiang says the locomotives have been customized to suit Kenya's tropical savannah climate. "Our experts from China undertook extensive field research to understand the local environment and ensure that the machines are durable, efficient and meet the Kenyan government's specifications."

The engines are expected to cut the journey time between Nairobi and Mombasa by running at an average speed of 80 kilometers per hour for freight and 120km/h for passengers.

Johnson Matu, lead engineer from the local consulting agency TAEC Consortium, says a team of experts drawn from Kenya and China selected the manufacturers.

"Due diligence was carried out and two companies were chosen based on their experience and capabilities to meet our tight deadline," he says.

The whole process took 8-10 months.

Matu says CRRC met all specifications given by the government.

"The locomotives have a design life of 30 years and may reach 50 with proper maintenance," he says.

Matu says initial costs of maintenance for the railway will be minimal but will gradually escalate due to wear and tear.

"Ordinarily, the track will last one to two decades. The trains, on the other hand, will need rehabilitation and an overhaul, which is costly. Proper maintenance would ensure the wheels do not eat into the track."

Four workshops have been put in place to undertake maintenance work.

"In the meantime, we are in the process of building capacity for the operations and maintenance of the railway in the short and medium term," says the engineer, adding that neighboring countries will be able to use them in the future.

Ethiopia was the first East African country to successfully complete its modern railway, spanning 752.7 km at a cost of $3.78 billion. It links the landlocked country to the port of Djibouti.

While Ethiopia officially commissioned the project in October last year, Djibouti inaugurated its section on Jan 11 at Nagad Railway Station. The Chinese-built infrastructure is Africa's first transnational electrified railway.

Other regional countries considering building modern rail infrastructure are Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.

lucymorangi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 01/20/2017 page29)