cameroon adopts a master plan for the railway

Cameroon adopts a master plan for the railway.
5 Nov 2013,

http://www.amchamcam.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=118&catid=1:business-news&Itemid=198
(french translation)

The Ministry of Economy , Planning and Regional Planning has made available to the press a checklist to understand the issues of national rail master plan, the final report of the study further confirmation priority routes was presented . Among the priority routes prominently journey Mbalam -Kribi , due to the exploitation of iron that will extract Mbalam.

Summary of the economic impact of this project in Cameroon.

How many direct and indirect jobs could generate the implementation of the National Railway Master Plan of Cameroon?
The Ministry of Economy , Planning and Regional Development, the National Railway Master Plan of Cameroon is considered an ambitious hopeful development for the youth in particular and people in general .

In the short term:
- Direct jobs = 31,900
- Indirect jobs = 316,400
Total jobs = 348,300

In the medium term:
- Direct jobs = 25,100
- Indirect jobs = 230,900
Total jobs = 256,000

What are the types of jobs that may require the project?
The jobs listed cover all sectors of the economy . Technical guidance to enforcement officers . Namely:
• In the areas of art : engineers and architects to design civil engineering and construction , mechanical and electro-mechanical , electronic, computer , metal construction, the work of wood, the robot accuracy, editing and printing ...

• In the technical core businesses : Drivers of heavy and semi- heavy equipment, service providers (catering, accommodation, supply of hydrocarbons, etc...).

National vocational training institutions are they equipped to adapt their teaching to the new requirements? Otherwise, how do you involve young Cameroonians to build the new national railway network?
An upgrade for some and initial and continuing training for other will be needed. Our system , training and higher education must reflect and align his teachings to this need by 2014 at the latest. The Minister of Higher Education is working , especially with the NPHS,ENTP, SPT .

What will be the economic impact of the project?
To our economy and our growth prospects , the National Railway Master Plan of Cameroon led to the creation of associated industries. Particularly in the fields of steel , cement, in the production of aggregates , etc. .
The analysis of the impact have been a constant increase in the gross domestic product ( GDP) from 2015 to about 4.75% per year until 2040. The exploitation of the different scenarios on time, suggests a Cameroonian economic miracle with the creation of an industry partner. This will necessarily reduce import of raw and secondary materials increase our volume and our ability to export in Central Africa in the first place.

How will funding the new national railway network and how will we organize its operations ?
On the financing and operation , several classic patterns arise. In particular, the public-private partnership where the roles are well defined and the Build Operate Transfer ( BOT ) that everyone knows . There will be also a finance in the form of bond, which could be another possibility of arrangement. However, the railway remains the property of the State timely fix and determine the criteria for its use.
In any event , the final report of further study for confirmation of certain priority routes Mbalam -Kribi and Edea -Kribi provides optimal solutions given the diversity of some future rail users , optimization proposals rail facilities ( track, and estimates of construction costs and operating costs) , and a light on the institutional arrangements that should be taken to ensure the sustainability , profitability and governance in the rail.

How is the route of the new railway ( configuration , national , sub- regional ramifications and technical characteristics)?
And path routes oriented passenger traffic areas or industries have been proposed on the basis of assumptions origin / destination include population growth and economic development.
The proposed route has interconnections with neighboring countries , with the aim of capturing solid traffic growth ( Chad , CAR, DRC , Congo, Gabon , Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria and Angola later ).

This railway is intended to modern standards with a rail of 50 kg and a distance of 1,435 mm.
These features facilitate the acquisition of the mobile equipment (locomotives, wagons) and a signaling system adapted to the fiber optic network ( remote signaling ), which gives hope to the linear speed of between 170 and 150 km / h trains travelers, between 90 km and 70 km / h for freight trains . The choice of the government is on a dual carriageway .

Why Cameroon has he chosen to use the Korean partnership for the development of its national master plan ?
The owner has made a selection of the consultant after an open international tender , with a prior international public opinion for expressions of interest.

Only the criteria of transparency and good governance prevailed. And today we can express our satisfaction with the quality of this intellectual work .

Cameroonian experts involved have also demonstrated their mastery of the field .

When is the start of work?
Our ambition is to complete the feasibility of routes in the short term in 2012 and dedicate the year 2013 to comply with the provisions starting work .

Source: Ministry of Economy , Planning and Regional Development.

Other reading ...

Congo, Cameroon Create Mbalam Iron-Ore Supervising Team (2 Oct 2012)

http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/390095/20121002/africa-iron-ore-congo-cameroon.htm