China Eximbank provides $29.26 million preferential buyer’s credit for Pakbeng Mekong Bridge Project

In 2010, China Eximbank and the Government of Laos signed a $29.26 million preferential buyer’s credit (PBC) agreement for the Pakbeng Mekong Bridge Project. The borrowing terms of the PBC are unknown. It is known that the proceeds of the PBC were to be used by the borrower to finance 95% of a $30.8 million commercial (EPC) contract with China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC). The project involved the construction of the 379 meter long and 13 meter wide Pakbeng Mekong River Bridge (with 1.5 meter sidewalks on both sides, a reinforced concrete continuous beam structure, and a bridge approach that is 321 meters long) in the district of Pakbeng. The purpose of this two-way two-lane bridge — with a designed driving speed of 60km/hour — was to connect Oudomxay Province and Xaiyabuli (Sainyabuli) Province. The bridge is also an important overland connection point between Yunnan, China and Northern Thailand via Laos. The bridge links National Road No. 2W and No. 2E and facilitates the transportation of goods between the two provinces and other northern neighboring countries. CRBC was the EPC contractor responsible for implementation. A foundation stone laying and project commencement ceremony took place on December 23, 2012. The originally anticipated project completion date was March 22, 2015. The project passed final inspection on February 29, 2016. The bridge was was formally completed and opened to traffic on March 5, 2016. Then, the Lao Ministry of Transport issued a final project handover certificate on March 29, 2017. Upon completion, the bridge replaced a ferry service across the Mekong River.

Additional details

This project is also known as the Pakbeng-Ngeun Bridge Project, the China-Laos Friendship Bridge Project, the Pakbeng Along NR2 or Trans-Mekong River Bridge Project, and the Oudomxay-Sainyabuli Bridge across the Mekong River Project. The Chinese project title is 老挝北本跨湄公河“中老友谊大桥”项目 or 湄公河桥建设 or 了老挝北本湄公河大桥项目 or 挝北本跨湄公河“中老友谊大桥”项目 or 老挝北本湄公河大桥项目.

Number of official sources

14

Number of unofficial sources

7