Transafrikha Dakar-Djibouti via Addis Ababa (presentation)

TRANSAFRIKHA Dakar – Djibouti via Addis Ababa

Transafrikha Dakar – Djibouti via Addis Ababa is a freight and high-speed passenger rail transportation project proposed, planned and designed by Transafrikha (French-registered environment & engineering association), with a lengtht of 4200.11 mi (6759.42 km) and a total construction cost of €150.7 billion, connecting Dakar, SENEGAL (Far Western Africa & Atlantic Ocean) with Djibouti, DJIBOUTI (Far Eastern Africa & Indian Ocean).

The present financial estimate is established by using the REGIO Rail Unit Cost Tool developped by DG REGIO Rail (EU Commission).

« The aim of the REGIO Rail Unit Cost Tool is to aid the assessment of investment costs in rail
infrastructure projects. Specifically, the Tool performs two activities a benchmarking analysis and
forecasting. The former verifies whether the investment cost of a rail infrastructure project is comparable
to the investment cost of similar projects. The latter supports the evaluation of infrastructure investments
by providing cost estimation of the project and of each cost component. The projects used for the analysis
are identified on the basis of the factors that impact the investment cost, thus the technical
characteristics of the railway line (e.g. category of works, line category, structures included in the
investment, etc.) and the external conditions of the project (e.g. geographical features of the
construction site, presence of urban environment, etc.). »

• From « Assesment of unit costs (standard prices) of rail projects (CAPital EXpenditures), REGIO Rail Unit Cost Toll instructions, Introduction »; 13th July 2018

Transafrikha Dakar – Djibouti via Addis Ababa have 10 stations:

1. Dakar, SENEGAL (West Terminal)
2. Bamako, MALI
3. Ouagadougou, BURKINA FASO
4. Niamey, NIGER
5. Kano, NIGERIA
6. N’Djamena, CHAD (Central Terminal)
7. Sila Region, CHAD
8. South Kordofan, SUDAN
9. Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA
10. Djibouti, DJIBOUTI (East Terminal)

Transafrikha Dakar – Djibouti via Addis Ababa have 9 sections:

1. Dakar, SEN – Bamako, MLI (649.49 mi/ 1045.25 km)
2. Bamako, MLI – Ouagadougou, BFA (436.59 mi/ 702.63 km)
3. Ouagadougou, BFA – Niamey, BFA (257.86 mi/ 414.98 km)
4. Niamey, BFA – Kano, NGA (444.21 mi/ 714.88 km)
5. Kano, NGA – N’Djamena, TCD (441.13 mi/ 709,93 km), or « The Central Section »
6. N’Djamena, TCD – Sila Region, TCD (510.17 mi/ 821.04 km)
7. Sila Region, TCD – South Kordofan, SDN (510.17 mi/ 821.04 km)
8. South Kordofan – Addis Ababa, ETH (602.99 mi/ 970.43 km)
9. Addis Ababa, ETH – Djibouti, DJI (347.50 mi/ 559.25 km)

Transafrikha Dakar – Djibouti via Addis Ababa have 2 divisions, inter-connected via the Central Terminal:

1. Dakar, SEN – N’Djamena, TCD (2229.29 mi/ 3587.67 km), or « Dakar – Djibouti West division »
2. N’Djamena, TCD – Djibouti, DJI (1970.83 mi/ 3171.75 km), or « Dakar – Djibouti East division »

Each Transafrikha Dakar – Djibouti via Addis Ababa divisions is divided in 2 subdivisions:

• Dakar, SEN – N’Djamena, TCD or « Dakar – Djibouti West division » subdvisions are:

1. Dakar, SEN – Ouagadougou, BFA (1086.08 mi/ 1747.88 km) or « Dakar – Djibouti Far-West subdivision »
2. Ouagadougou, BFA – N’Djamena, TCD (1143.19 mi/ 1839.79 km) or  » Dakar – Djibouti Mid-West subdivision »

• N’Djamena, TCD – Djibouti, DJI or « Dakar – Djibouti East division » subdivisions are:

1. N’Djamena, TCD – South Kordofan, SDN (1018.95 mi/ 1639.84 km) or « Dakar – Djibouti Mid-East subdivision »
2. South Kordofan, SDN – Djibouti, DJI (951.89 mi/ 1531.92 km) or « Dakar – Djibouti Far-East subdivision »

Unit costs of Transafrikha Dakar – Djibouti via Addis Ababa rail line

Base infrastructure cost

Considering that the base infrastructure cost of a conventional new line is of 4.4 M€/km, considering that the base infrastructure cost of a high-speed new line is of 8.4 M€/km, the base infrastructure cost of both the conventional and high-speed new lines of the Transafrikha Dakar – Djibouti railway is of €86.520, 576 billion. Considering that the base infrastructure cost of conventional signalling, telecommunication and electrification is of 0.4 M€/km, considering that the base infrastructure cost of high-speed signalling, telecommunication and electrification is of 0.5 M€/km, the base infrastructure cost of Transafrikha Dakar – Djibouti both conventional and high-speed signalling, telecommunication and electrification is of €6. 083, 768 billion.

Thus, Transafrikha Dakar – Djibouti via Addis Ababa railway total base infrastructure cost (rail lines and signalling, electrification, communication) is of €92. 604, 054 billion (minimum) / 92. 605, 150 billion (maximum).

Construction cost

Considering that the construction cost of a conventional new line is of 7.2 M€/km, considering that the construction cost of a high-speed new line is of 14.1 M€/km, the construction cost of both the conventional and high-speed new lines of the Transafrikha Dakar – Djibouti railway is of €143.975, 646 billion. Considering that the construction cost of conventional signalling, telecommunication and electrification is of 0.6 M€/km, considering that the construction cost of high-speed signalling, telecommunication and electrification is of 0.4 M€km, the construction cost of Transafrikha Dakar – Djibouti both conventional and high-speed signalling, telecommunication and electrification is of €6. 759, 42 billion.

Thus, Transafrikha Dakar – Djibouti via Addis Ababa railway total construction cost (rail lines and signalling, electrification, communication) is of €150. 735, 066 billion (minimum) / 150.736, 627 billion (maximum).

Total investment cost

Considering that the investment cost of a conventional new line is of 8.2 M€/km, while the investment costs of the other unit infrastructures (high-speed lines, conventional and high-speed signalling, electrification, telecommunication) are identical to their construction cost, the total investment cost of Transafrikha Dakar – Djibouti freight and passenger rail transportation infrastructure is of €157. 494, 486 billion (minimum) / 157. 495, 185 billion (maximum).

To resume, Transafrikha Dakar – Djibouti, it is a transcontinental railway:

-with a lenght of 4 200 miles/6 760 km, with a total construction cost of €150.7 billion and a total investment cost of €157.5 billion

-linking Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea & Indian Ocean via the Gulf of Aden ,

-open to global investments and international constructors & busienss operators

-crossing Africa from east to west, encompassing ten countries and four subregions (Western africa, Middle africa, Northern africa and Eastern africa) of a continent with a total population of 1. 369 billion people, a 30.4 million km² (11.7 million square miles) surface, and a GDP per capita (PPP) of $6.84 trillion (2021 est; 4th).

Transafrikha Dakar – Djibouti via Addis Ababa is a long-conceived mega-project, created by Mr GNADOU Dano Zady (Chairman of HGOAH SAS and Transafrikha), forming a corridor which could opportunately reach African capitals, economic areas and seaports through Transafrikha’s railway extensions.

Transafrikha, 2021

Sources:

• Assesment of unit costs (standard prices) of rail project (CAPital EXpenditure), Final report, Written by M. ATTINÀ, A. BASILICO, M.BOTTA, I. BRANCATELLO, F. GARGANI, V. GORI, F. Wilhelm, M. MENTING, R. ODOARDI, A. PIPERNO, M. RANIERI from PwC and supported by the contribution of Prof. M. COLI and Prof. F. ZAMBELLONI from COWI (13th July 2018)

• UN Data

• International Monetary Fund

Links:

• https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/studies/pdf/assess_unit_cost_rail_en.pdf

Glossary:

• Conventional line: Railway lines with a maximum speed of 249 km/h for new lines and 199 km/h for upgraded lines.
• High-Speed: New lines designed for speeds equal to or above 250 km/h and upgraded existing lines for speeds equal to or above 200 km/h
• New line: Project related to the deployment of a new railway line or to the deployment of additional tracks on an existing line
• Operation type: The operation type of the railway line (or section). The possible options are: freight, pax, mixed (pax/freight)
• Signalling, electrification, telecommunication: Projects related to the deployment of a signalling system, telecommunication and/or electrification system along a railway line.

The present financial estimate is established by using the REGIO Rail Unit Cost Tool developped by DG REGIO Rail (EU Commission).

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