China-Tanzania cooperation has always been at the forefront of China-Africa cooperation. In recent years, China and Tanzania have promoted the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and Chinese enterprises have built a series of infrastructure projects such as ports, bridges, railways and highways in Tanzania, making outstanding contributions to Tanzania's development. In 2022, China-Tanzania relations will be upgraded to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and the two sides will further strengthen practical cooperation in various fields, jointly implement the Global Development Initiative, and promote the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.
Port of Dar es Salaam –
"Bringing Chinese speed and technology to Tanzania"
Loaded cargo ships docked at the port, loading and unloading vehicles shuttled back and forth, and containers were neatly stacked under the bridge crane...... The port of Dar es Salaam, on the western shore of the Indian Ocean, is a busy scene (see photo, photo by Bian Liang). It is not only the gateway port of Tanzania, but also an important access point for many landlocked countries in East Africa.
The port was built in the 40s and 50s of the last century, and the terminal facilities were aging and the berths were narrow, making it difficult to handle the increasingly busy cargo loads. In 2017, the reconstruction and expansion project of berths 1-7 of Dar es Salaam Port, which was contracted by China Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "China Harbor") and undertaken by CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd., officially started.
At the beginning of the construction of the project, there were two major problems: first, the width of the water area of the port area was less than 300 meters, and the width of the land area was less than 200 meters, and the construction area was limited; To this end, the project department has determined the rolling construction plan of the berths, that is, the construction of different berths in turn without affecting the overall operation of the port area to ensure the realization of "guaranteed construction period and non-stop sailing".
The Port of Dar es Salaam is located in a complex geological structure with high salinity, and the project team used prestressed high-strength concrete (PHC pipe piles) in the construction of the port berth. Compared with traditional cast-in-place piles, PHC pipe piles have high strength, less influence by waves, fast construction speed, and good quality controllability, which not only has lower comprehensive cost of maintenance but also longer service life. "This is the first application of PHC pipe piles in the construction of African ports, and it is also the first time that related products of Chinese standards have been implemented in Tanzania. Bian Liang, head of the China Harbor project, said.
As Tanzania's first large-scale port infrastructure project in nearly 50 years, the Dar es Salaam Port berth reconstruction and expansion project will increase the port's berthing capacity from 20,000 tons to 70,000 tons. In June 2021, after the completion of the project, the port's overall cargo capacity, service level and competitive advantage have been greatly improved.
Speaking of the new Port of Dar es Salaam, Deputy Director General of the Port of Tanzania Juma Kijawala is very proud: "The Berth Reconstruction and Expansion Project of the Port of Dar es Salaam is a model of cooperation between Tanzania and China in building the Belt and Road Initiative. Through the all-round upgrading of port facilities, the import and export trade of Tanzania and landlocked countries in East Africa has received important support, and the important role of ports in regional economic cooperation has become more prominent. ”
Isaac Kamwewi, former Minister of Engineering, Transport and Communications of Tanzania, said: "It is the right choice for Chinese companies to bring Chinese speed and technology to Tanzania, and to hand over the project to Chinese companies for construction. ”
Bus Rapid Transit Phase II Project –
"Modernizing our cities"
Walking on Kilwa Avenue in the Mbagalla district of Dar es Salaam, the roadside vendors shouting and selling all kinds of goods, pedestrians and vehicles are bustling.
Almas, a local, told reporters that in the past, it took two hours to take a bus from here to the city center, but after the completion of the bus rapid transit system built by a Chinese company, it now only takes 30 minutes to get to the city by car. "It is much more convenient for us to go to shopping malls, hospitals and schools in the city center, which is a real project to benefit the people. ”
Tanzania is one of the countries with the fastest urbanization and economic development in East Africa, but in the process of urbanization, the construction of transportation infrastructure is relatively lagging behind. The BRT Bus Rapid Transit (BRT Phase II) Bid 1 project, implemented by Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina), is an important part of the country's BRT system. The project started in May 2019 and is currently completed and awaiting delivery.
According to reports, the project covers the construction of rapid transit lanes, bus stations, railway bridges, pedestrian bridges, traffic lights, road drainage facilities, and road communication systems in special sections. "When the project is officially put into operation, it will greatly facilitate transportation in the city, greatly shorten the time from the port to the airport, and further promote the extension of the urban public transportation network to the north and west of the city, covering more communities and populations. Yuan Rui, project manager for BRT Phase 2, said.
Loverick, a truck driver who works for a local logistics company, said that the intersection of Nyerere Road and Changgongbei Road used to be very congested, and the road less than 30 kilometers to the airport sometimes stuck in traffic for two or three hours. Last year, the Nyerere Bridge for BRT Phase 2 was completed, diverting traffic from congested roads. "After the Nyerere Bridge was put into use, we can now reach the airport in 30 minutes, which is very convenient. Loverick said happily.
"Dar es Salaam is the city where I grew up. In the process of participating in the construction of the project, I have seen that the city's transportation is improving day by day, and getting around is becoming more and more convenient. Multuma joined PowerChina in 2019 and has been involved in the construction of the second phase of the BRT project. He started his career as a road safety officer and is now a safety engineer. "I hope to build more projects with Chinese companies to modernize our cities. ”
After inspecting the second phase of the BRT project, the African Development Bank delegation said that the bus rapid transit project in Tanzania is a model project and that the experience gained in improving urban transport conditions can be used by other African countries to learn from.
Magufuli Bridge –
"A lot of people have a lot of incomes"
Lake Victoria, Africa's largest freshwater lake, is a sparkling lake. The Magufuli Bridge, which is under construction and is being built by a Chinese company, spans the north and south, and will help connect the two sides of Lake Victoria for the benefit of local people.
At around 7 a.m., on the shores of Lake Victoria, passengers from Gaita, Kagera, Kigoma and other places boarded ferries to Mwanza on the other side. Samwell runs a small shop in Gaita. "Usually a ferry takes 30 to 40 minutes and travels 25 to 30 minutes, but the capacity is very limited. If you choose the road, the time is longer, at least two and a half hours, which is extremely inconvenient. Samwell expects that after the completion and opening of the Magufuli Bridge, it will greatly shorten the round-trip time, drive transportation and logistics around Lake Victoria, and promote local economic development.
The construction of the Magufuli Bridge was jointly undertaken by China Civil Engineering Group Co., Ltd. and China Railway 15th Bureau, and started in February 2020. The 3.2-kilometer-long, four-lane two-way bridge connecting Getha and Mwanza is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. The bridge is also an important hub connecting Tanzania with countries such as Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda. When completed, the travel time on both sides of Lake Victoria will be reduced to 5 minutes.
Fishing is a major industry in the Lake Victoria District and an important source of income for the surrounding residents. During the construction of the bridge, it was important to ensure the water quality of the lake. Qin Rong, deputy project manager, introduced that the project team introduced advanced technology and materials from China, and overcame the complex geological and water environment through innovative technology during the construction process, ensuring that the construction process is scientific, green and efficient. "In order to create a waterless underwater cushion cap construction working environment, we adopted an integrated flexible water-stopping process, using rubber capsules to fill the gap between the cushion cap floor and the pile foundation, and after inflation and expansion, the water barrier can be completed to prevent leakage. Qin Rong said that this technology was rated as a scientific and technological achievement with international advanced level.
Samir, a 26-year-old surveying engineer, told reporters: "Mwanza is the second largest city in Tanzania, where schools, markets, hospitals, etc. are concentrated. In the past, people had to travel by ferry, and my ancestors probably never imagined that there would be a bridge here to help us prosper. Before the construction of the bridge project, most of the people in our village made a living from fishing. After the construction of the bridge project began, many people in the village came to apply, and I joined in. Job opportunities are precious, and many people, including me, have seen their incomes increase dramatically. ”
According to reports, the project has created more than 1,000 jobs since its inception and trained more than 200 managers and skilled workers for the local area. In June, Tanzanian President Hassan inspected the project and said that the completion of the Magufuli Bridge would drastically improve traffic on both sides of Lake Victoria and facilitate the movement of goods from more areas to Mwanza.
Nkingo, a Tanzanian scholar and current affairs commentator, said that Chinese companies have built a number of large-scale infrastructure facilities for Tanzania, subcontracted a large number of projects to local companies, and employed thousands of Tanzanian engineers and skilled workers, training many engineering and technical talents for the local area.
Column Editor-in-Chief: Qin Hong Text Editor: Dong Siyun
Source: Author: People's Daily