China Eximbank provides RMB 462 million government concessional loan for 132kV SORAZ-Zinder and Maradi-Malbaza Transmission Line Project

On November 13, 2013, China Eximbank and the Government of Niger signed an RMB 462,515,209 government concessional loan (GCL) agreement for the 132kV SORAZ-Zinder and Maradi-Malbaza Transmission Line Project. The loan carries the following borrowing terms: a 20 year maturity, a 5 year grace period, and a 1% interest rate. The Government of Niger was expected to use the revenues that it generated from selling electricity to Nouvelle Cimenterie du Niger to repay the loan. The proceeds of the loan were to be used by the borrower to finance a commercial contract between Société Nigérienne d’Electricité (NIGELEC) — a state-owned power utility in Niger — and China Railway International. The purpose of the project was to construct two 132kV power transmission lines: a 57 km line from the SORAZ Zinder oil refinery to Zinder City, and a 202 km from Maradi to Malbaza. These two power transmission lines were meant to connect to NIGELEC's network, provide electricity to the cities of Zinder, Maradi and Tahoua, and transfer surplus power from the SORAZ refinery to Nouvelle Cimenterie du Niger (a company that operates a cement plant in Malbaza). The project supported the construction of four electricity substations (two in Malbaza, one in Zinder City, and one at the SORAZ Zinder oil refinery). A groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 4, 2015. Construction was originally expected to reach completion in 2017. The project ultimately reached completion. However its precise completion date is unknown.

Additional details

1. The Chinese project title is 尼日尔132KV输变电项目 or 尼日尔马拉迪-马尔巴萨/津德尔-索拉兹132kV输变电项目 or 尼日尔输变电项目. 2. The French project title is Projet de construction de la ligne électrique 132 kV Maradi-Malbaza & Zinder- SORAZ. 3. In the database of Chinese loan commitments that SAIS-CARI released in July 2020, it does not identify the borrowing terms of this loan. AidData relies on the borrowing terms (20 year maturity, 5 year grace period, and 1% interest rate) that are reported by the Government of Niger (see https://tresor.ne/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/RAPPORT-ANNUEL-2021_VF-1.pdf).

Number of official sources

14

Number of total sources

20