China plans to plough at least 5 billion US dollar (ca. 27 milliarder DKR – eller som 2 års dansk u-landsbistand) into rehabilitating infrastructure and mines in the DR Congo (former Zaire) in what would be one of its most ambitious ventures in sub-Saharan Africa, Congolese officials said on Tuesday.
In an initial phase, the Chinese would be repaid in copper and cobalt, Viktor Kasongo, Congos Deputy Mines Minister said. But the deal, a draft of which was signed on Monday, also envisages concessions in nickel and gold, and repayment from tolls on railways and roads yet to be built.
A first phase of 3 billion dollar will finance big transport infrastructure projects, including a 3.400 km highway between the northeast city of Kisangani and Kasumbalesa on the Congolese border with Zambia in the South.
There will also be a 3.200 km railway to link the vast countrys southern mining heartland (Katanga) to the main Atlantic port of Matadi in the west. The 3 billion infrastructure segment too includes plans to build 31 hospitals, 145 health centers, and two universities.
A further 2 billion dollar is earmarked for rehabilitating the crumbling mining infrastructure and setting up joint ventures in the mines sector.
Existing mining contracts and concessions held by foreign groups would not be affected, Kasongo said. If the funds are disbursed, they would make Congo one of the top recipients of Chinese investment in Africa as Beijing drives to secure mineral and other commodities to fuel its booming domestic economy.
The official Xinhua press agency recently estimated there are at least 750.000 Chinese working or living for extended periods on the continent, a reflection of burgeoning economic ties that reached 55 billion dollar in trade in 2006.
Chinese trade and investment has galvanised mineral production from South Africa (manganese) to Niger (uranium), and from Sudan to Angola (oil).
China is building major new railroad lines in Nigeria and Angola, large dams in Sudan, airports in several countries, and new roads almost everywhere.
One of the largest road builders, China Road and Bridge Construction, owned by the Chinese government, has 29 projects in Africa (many financed by the World Bank or other lenders) and offices in 22 African countries.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
