Chinese-built Ethiopia-Djibouti railway records increase in revenue despite pandemic

[FuturePAF]

I am not just talking about railway only but simply division among ethnics of Ethiopia that would otherwise propel them to next level.

True. Internal ethnic divisions are holding them back. Ethiopia is one of the best situated nations to benefit from global trends if it can get its act together. Any chance China could help mediate the conflict? IMHO, China will have to use its influence to bring the parties to their senses if it hopes to get its BRI projects not just up and running but realizing Thor full potential. A train line in Ethiopia is about a large part of Africa and not just about Ethiopia.

 

[uhuru]

It’s not about “dominating”, it’s about making it in the business interest of the common people that the railways operate unmolested, economically, politically, and legally.

Also if the most profitable railways are funded by locals and more strategic railways are funded by China to connect the profitable lines on an east west alignment a trans-African line could be built from Senegal to Nigeria and on to Ethiopia and the port in Djibouti. China could restrict which companies ship over the lines they own/control under a BOT agreement and therefore earn back the investment through shipping charges; cheaper then truck based shipping. Chinese owned lines could also incentivize Chinese mining companies to operate in more parts of Africa.

For example a more modern Chinese build railway could easily outcompete the existing Dakar-Niger railway that in places has to run at only 20 kmph . In fact African countries have looked to China and the CRCC in 2015 to modernize this particular line.

Main thing is for our continent to show leadership. If you look at Ethiopian Airlines; record upon record profits. It is something really to aspire; it did not at all have any input from any one from outside.

The same can be done at railway level too without doubt. But it needs good governance and community support. The culture regretfully in Nigeria is to scam the next person. You cannot change people's culture of grazing.

let us take Tazara line - it is a good example when we had looked to get railway from Zambia to Dar. No one would be able to do what was done then. It provided Zambia a lifeline. The chinese engineers were above and beyond in achieving this feat of engineering.

This railway has been now revived and provides a big life line.

True. Internal ethnic divisions are holding them back. Ethiopia is one of the best situated nations to benefit from global trends if it can get its act together. Any chance China could help mediate the conflict? IMHO, China will have to use its influence to bring the parties to their senses if it hopes to get its BRI projects not just up and running but realizing Thor full potential. A train line in Ethiopia is about a large part of Africa and not just about Ethiopia.

Actually the issues are internal and i would be cautious to get any outside parties involved.

We believe AU mediation will resolve this issue finally. Abbie has been a great leader but regretfully the tigerian folks felt they were losing the control of power. Under their government, Ethiopia was continuously being held back with human right abuses that it got out of hand.

 

[FuturePAF]

Main thing is for our continent to show leadership. If you look at Ethiopian Airlines; record upon record profits. It is something really to aspire; it did not at all have any input from any one from outside.

The same can be done at railway level too without doubt. But it needs good governance and community support. The culture regretfully in Nigeria is to scam the next person. You cannot change people's culture of grazing.

let us take Tazara line - it is a good example when we had looked to get railway from Zambia to Dar. No one would be able to do what was done then. It provided Zambia a lifeline. The chinese engineers were above and beyond in achieving this feat of engineering.

This railway has been now revived and provides a big life line.


Actually the issues are internal and i would be cautious to get any outside parties involved.

We believe AU mediation will resolve this issue finally. Abbie has been a great leader but regretfully the tigerian folks felt they were losing the control of power. Under their government, Ethiopia was continuously being held back with human right abuses that it got out of hand.

Good analysis. Ultimately it has to be a pan-African effort for it to have legitimacy and not get detailed in the power struggles of local corrupt elites and foreign powers both.

This is how Chinese economic investments in Africa are seen (framed) in the West.

 

[uhuru]

Good analysis. Ultimately it has to be a pan-African effort for it to have legitimacy and not get detailed in the power struggles of local corrupt elites and foreign powers both.

This is how Chinese economic investments in Africa are seen (framed) in the West.

I did not check that yet. but thank you.

Here the SGR project which is a huge initiative is a good casing point. We chose to go with Turkish consortium as experience with the Chinese has regretfully become a very negative one especially after the Bagamoyo fiasco. The raillink is in phase 4 now.

The main bit, our former president was very wise and challenged everything in terms of ensuring it had proper accountability and not create white elephants as we are seeing in Kenya. The BGR provides a huge opportunity to link economies of Rwanda/Burundi/Eastern DRC and Uganda. The next phase post this is to upgrade entire Tazara but that needs investments from Zambia which is bankrupt' that will wait a longer time.

SGR Archives

Tanzania is currently expanding the country’s rail network with the construction of a Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to replace its meter-gauge railway.

www.tanzaniainvest.com

The quality of Turkey construction has been far better. Finally we are seeing a new entry into our continent vs the other. Competition is good and Turkey does not have imperial motives either that cannot be used to sway the politicians. It is on merits which is the way we should award projects.