Chinese Government provides CFA 50 billion grant for N’Djamena Stadium Construction Project

In July 2016, a feasibility study was carried out to construct a stadium in N'Djamena. One month later, the Chinese Government announced that it would finance the construction of a modern stadium — with 30,000 seats — in the capital city of N'Djamena. The reported size of its grant commitment is CFA 50 billion. Roughly one year later, on September 10, 2018, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced that Shanghai Architectural Design & Research Co. Ltd. (specifically the Huajian Group) and Guang Zhou Sui Ke Construction Management Co., Ltd won the bid to implement the N’Djamena Stadium Construction Project. The purpose of the project is to construct a a modern stadium (known as the August 8 Stadium or Stade du 8 Août) — with 30,000 seats, a football training field, two basketball training fields, a handball training field, a tennis training field and a volleyball training field — in the Mandjaffa district within the 7th arrondissement of the capital city of N'Djamena. Shanghai Architectural Design & Research Co. Ltd. and Guang Zhou Sui Ke Construction Management Co., Ltd are the contractors responsible for project design and implementation. On August 8, 2019, a groundbreaking ceremony took place. Construction was originally scheduled to commence in March 2020 and reach completion within 46 months (January 1, 2024). However, in April 2020, the project implementation was temporarily halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which made it difficult for construction management personnel, equipment, and materials to arrive on time. As of March 19, 2021, project implementation had not restarted.

Additional details

1. The Chinese project title is 援乍得恩贾梅纳体育场项目 or 乍得恩贾梅纳体育场项目. The French project title is Projet de Stade du 8 Août or Projet de Construction du Stade de N'Djamena. 2. The Aid Management Platform (AMP) system identification number is 8728332474. 3. Many sources refer to this project as grant-funded. However, the Government of Chad's Aid Management Platform (AMP) identifies the project as being financed with a 2019 loan worth CFA 50 billion. The World Bank's Debtor Reporting System (DRS) captures a 2019 China Eximbank loan to the Government of Chad for an ICT Modernization Project, but not a 2019 loan for the N’Djamena Stadium Construction Project (see https://www.dropbox.com/s/2sw4f7gluxa52fk/DRS%20Official%20Commitments%20from%20China%20Through%202021.xlsx?dl=0). This issue warrants further investigation.

Number of official sources

9

Number of total sources

21