Chinese Government provides RMB 228 million for Second Bridge over Niger River Project (linked to #58039, #58641, #67573, #58623)

On 18 July, 2006, the Chinese Government agreed to provide an RMB 30 million interest-free loan (captured in linked Project ID#67573) and a RMB 20 million grant (captured in linked ProjectID#58623) for the Second Bridge over Niger River Project. However, this was only one of multiple Chinese Government grant and interest-free loan commitments for this project. In total, China’s Ministry of Commerce reportedly provided RMB 228 million in grants and interest-free loans for this project. This project involved the construction of a 23 meter wide bridge across the Niger River that is 2.15 km in length. China Railway 14th Bureau Co., Ltd. (中国铁建十四局集团) was the contractor responsible for implementation. A formal foundation-laying ceremony took place on 5 November, 2007; however, construction did not begin until 28 June, 2008. An official Chinese Government visit to the project site occurred on 14 April, 2010 and progress was deemed to be satisfactory. The bridge ultimately opened for use on 18 March, 2011, and a completion ceremony was held on 8 December, 2012. The contractor originally expected to complete the project by 8 October, 2010. A 2011 ETCA signed by the Government of Niger and the Chinese Government reportedly also contributed to the funding of the Second Bridge over Niger River Project (captured in linked Project ID#58641). The Chinese Government also financed and built the third bridge across the Niger River (captured in linked project #58039).

Additional details

1. The French project title is Pont de l'Amitié Chine-Niger or Deuxième pont de Niamey (See: Beijing’s ‘Going Out’ Strategy and Belt and Road Initiative in the Sahel: The Case of China’s Growing Presence in Niger). 2. The Chinese project title is 尼日尔二桥项目 or 二桥 (See: 尼日尔河二桥—连接中尼友谊之桥). 3. In the database of Chinese loan commitments that SAIS-CARI released in July 2020, it identifies this project as backed by an official loan commitment but not as a project that has reached implementation or completion. AidData identifies this project as completed based on the fact that the Government of Niger, the Chinese Government, and China Railway 14th Bureau Co., Ltd. all report that the bridge was completed and put into used on 18 March, 2011. 4. The United Nations and the World Bank both cite the total project cost as $40 million USD, with China's Ministry of Commerce as the financier (See: Building Bridges China’s Growing Role as Infrastructure Financier for Sub-Saharan Africa and INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF AFRICA’S COOPERATION WITH NEW AND EMERGING DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS).

Number of official sources

18

Number of total sources

31