China Eximbank pledges financial support for Phase 2B of Road from Dordabis Interchange to Hosea Kutako International Airport (Linked to Record ID#60979, #60980)

Project narrative

On March 29th, 2018, the China Exim Bank granted 900 million NAD to the Government of Namibia for Phase 2B of a road project between Dordabis Interchange and the Hosea Kutako International Airport (also called the TR 9/1 or Trunk Road 9/1). Phase 2B is a 23.5 kilometer long dual-carriage freeway. According to the Namibian Road Authority Budget plans, the first N$200,000 will be allocated during the 2019/20 year, N$200,000 for 2020/21, N$300,000 2021/22, and the last N$200,000 for 2022/23. According to a September 2019 New Era article, Namibian Roads Authority CEO told reporters that the project was "at an advanced stage in terms of the procurement process to appoint a contractor to proceed with the second phase." A March 2021 New Area article reported that the Roads Authority CEO indicated that procurement of a contractor was still in progress and he expected to obtain a contractor by June/July 2021. Construction was expected to last 40-50 months. On November 24, 2023, an official claimed that the infrastructure project was 58.5% complete and was expected to be completed by the end of 2024. In 2015, China Exim Bank initially offered a $537 million USD loan (umbrella Record ID#60980) for this project but it was later cancelled. In 2017, China provided a separate grant worth 200 million USD and China Railway carried out Phase 1 of this road project (#60979).