Chinese Government provides $37.7 million loan for New Amri Agriculture Scheme (Merowe Resettlement) Project (Linked to Record ID#178, #56959)

Project narrative

According to Government of Sudan’s Ministry of Finance, in 2003, the Chinese Government and the Government of Sudan signed a $37,722,700.02 loan agreement for the New Amri Agriculture Scheme (Merowe Resettlement) Project. The borrowing terms of the loan are unknown. According to CWE press releases, the value of the commercial contract financed by the loan was $38 million. The construction of the China Eximbank-financed 1250 MW Merowe Hydroelectric Power Plant (see Record ID#178) caused the displacement of several groups of people living in the surrounding areas, one of which was the Amri people. The New Amri Agriculture Scheme Project, which was located on the west bank of Merowe locality, sought to to help the Amri people resettle during and after the construction of the dam. It involved a housing construction component and an irrigated agriculture component. The latter component involved the construction of 6.4 km main canal and four secondary canals ranging from 3 km to 22 km in length. China International Water & Electric Corporation (CWE) was the general contractor responsible for implementation, and Dan Fodio Company served as a a local subcontractor. Construction began on May 20, 2004, and the project was expected to reach completion by March 2006. On February 7, 2006, the main pumping station of the Sultan New Amri project was commissioned by the engineering and technical personnel of the project department. The project was completed in 2007, and by January of that year, half of the Amri people had moved to the new settlement.