Kenya in talks with Chinese firm over extension of new railway line
Updated: 2015-05-28 14:21
(Xinhua)
|
||||||||
NAIROBI - Kenya's government has started talks with a Chinese company, which is building a standard gauge railway line in the country, about an extension of the line to Naivasha, a market town and planned industrial center lying northwest of the capital Nairobi.
President Uhuru Kenyatta said he expects a 120-kilometer extension to reach special industrial zones to be set up in Naivasha, which is home to the Olkaria geothermal power plant.
The announcement of the proposal came after his visit to the construction site of the railway line in the coastal town of Voi on Tuesday.
Being the country's biggest infrastructure project since its independence in 1964, the railway line will link Nairobi with the port city of Mombasa, and is expected to eventually extend across East Africa to countries like Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan.
"We must do everything in our power to ensure that the Standard Gauge Railway is delivered on time and on budget... There must be no laxity in terms of delivering what is one of our most transformational projects," the president said in a statement on Wednesday.
Speaking of the industrial zones near Olkaria in plan, he said the government will provide subsidized power tariffs to attract investors.
Plans to set up industrial parks along the route of the standard gauge railway is ongoing as the ministry of industrialization has identified land for such parks in regions like Mariakani, Voi, Naivasha, Athi River and Emali.
Industrialization and Enterprise Development Cabinet Secretary, Aden Mohamed, revealed that his ministry has been in talks with land owners near the railway stations and he expects that acquisition can be completed within the next financial year.
The railway line, being built by China Road and Bridge Corporation, is expected to play an important role in improving Kenya's transport system, boosting regional economy and deepening integration in East Africa.
- California oil spill takes toll on marine mammals
- Ten photos you don't wanna miss - May 27
- Family photos for mountain-dwellers
- A young part-time chauffeur on the road
- Death toll from heat wave in India nears 800
- Tech giants shine on Intl Big Data Expo 2015
- Premier Li urges production capacity co-op between China, LatAm
- US honors war dead on Memorial Day
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Premier Li embarks on Latin America visit |
What do we know about AIIB |
Full coverage of Boao Forum for Asia |
Annual legislative and political advisory sessions |
Spring Festival trends reflect a changing China |
Patent applications lead the world |
Today's Top News
Li seeks 'dual track' for Chile exchanges
China cautions US over
South China Sea
China, Cuba emphasize confidence
Storms kill 16 in Texas, Oklahoma; Houston flooded
Obama to host South Korea's Park in mid-June
California oil spill takes toll on marine mammals
China issues first white paper on military strategy
China, Chile ink multi-billion-USD currency swap deal
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |