US$500 million project to start in 2024 in Mozambique

The Compact II Development Office in Mozambique, with US$500 million in US funding, plans to launch a competition in 2024 for the construction of a new bridge over the Likungo River in Zambezia and a ring road.

An advertisement requesting information from the market on this project, published this Thursday by this office and consulted by Lusa, states that the office intends to publish a specific tender notice and submit tender documents for the works “during the first part.” 2024.”

The same announcement states that a new bridge is being built on the N1 road crossing the Likungo River near Mokuba: “The existing bridge on the Likungo River is overloaded, has reached the end of its useful life and is no longer in use.” suitable for this purpose. It has been damaged by floods twice since it was built in the 1940s and there is no practical alternative to crossing the Likungo River for heavy trucks when it is damaged by floods.”

The project involves the construction of a new 1,800 meter long bridge, approximately 5,000 meters downstream from the current crossing, as well as 16 kilometers of new access road to connect the bridge to the N1 motorway.

The province of Zambezia, the second most populous in Mozambique and known for its tea plantations, mangroves and turquoise beaches, will be the focus of a new $500 million (about €450 million) project from North American agency Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

The funding, dubbed “Agreement II” and signed on September 20 at the Capitol in Washington in the presence of Mozambican Head of State Filipe Nyusi, includes the construction of a new bridge over the Likungo River and a ring bridge in the central coastal province. cyclones that have hit Mozambique in recent years.

MCC is a US government-funded external support agency that provides grants to developing countries, and in June the board of directors announced this funding agreement, called the Mozambique Coastal Connectivity and Resilience Pact, its second since 2007.

This second compact focuses on improving rural transportation networks, encouraging commercial agriculture through policy and financial reforms, and improving coastal livelihoods through climate resilience initiatives.

Funding disbursements for already identified projects are due to begin in fiscal year 2023, in addition to the Mozambican government’s contribution of $37.5 million (€35 million).

Globally, MCC is committing $310.5 million (€290 million) to connectivity and rural transport (CTR) projects, including the Likungo River Bridge and the construction of the Mokuba Bypass, a $201 million ($187.7 million) project. million euros).

Almost $83.5 million (€78 million) is planned for rural road construction and $11 million (€10.3 million) for road maintenance, among other things.

The Pillar of Reforms and Investment in Agriculture (PRIA) is allocated $30 million, half of which is earmarked for the Agricultural Investment Tax Reform Package and the other half is allocated to create the Provincial Commerce Aggregator Platform. Zambezia.

The third $100 million (approx. €90 million) structural component focuses on coastal livelihoods and climate resilience (CLCR) projects aimed at increasing productivity “through sustainable increases in fish and shellfish production and through non-profit activities ” but also the use of “sustainable ecosystem benefits such as carbon credits and coastal protection benefits.”