Gabon And SETRAG Commit To Phase Two Of Railway Upgrade

As Phase One of the railway upgrade in Gabon undertaken by SETRAG nears completion, the Government and SETRAG have recently committed to the continuation of the next phase of the project. This agreement was signed on 19 June 2024 between the CEO of SETRAG, Christian Magni, and Loic Ndinga Moudouma, the minister in charge of the project.

The next phase aims to continue the same objective as Phase One: renewing the railway by replacing wooden sleepers with bi-block concrete ones and extending the replacement of the 50 kg rails started in Phase One between Owendo and Ndjolé with 60 kg rails. This new agreement between the Gabonese State and SETRAG involves continuing the replacement of all rails up to Franceville. The work is expected to take 3 to 4 years.

The Gabonese State’s funding will focus on civil engineering and earthworks. This commitment is a result of joint studies and surveys conducted by both parties after the 2022 landslide that halted operations for months.

The Gabonese State’s funding will also enable the acquisition of new passenger trains, as the two currently in service, purchased second-hand in 2012 and 2016, are reaching the end of their operational life.

To date, of the 648 kilometres of railway, 300 kilometres have been renewed, and 225 kilometres of new rails have already been laid. This second phase of the works covers the Alembé-Ndjolé-Lopé and Milolé-Franceville section. The works, extending until 2028, will replace the entire section of the current 50 kg rail with the more robust 60 kg rail and renew all wooden sleepers with bi-block concrete ones. While the first phase of the PRN cost 230 billion CFA francs, the second phase will amount to 350 billion, with 130 billion financed by the State and the remaining 220 billion by SETRAG.