Orascom Construction-led consortium awarded Cairo Metro contract


Michael Fahy
  • English
  • Arabic

Orascom Construction says its consortium has won a contract to carry out civil engineering and electromechanical work for the third phase extension of Cairo Metro’s third line.

Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) awarded the contract to the consortium, which includes Colas Rail, a rail infrastructure consultant, Alstom, a French railway systems manufacturer, and Arab Contractors Company, an Egyptian contractor.

Orascom Construction said its share of the project was worth about €105 million (Dh413.7m). Alstom’s share is worth €102m.

Cairo Metro has two lines that are fully operational and a third line that has been opening in phases. The network has 78 kilometres of track and carries 3 million passengers per day, but the extension covering a further 17.7km will add a further 15 stations through Greater Cairo, Heliopolis Square and Cairo International Airport. Upon line 3’s completion, it is estimated that it will carry 1.5 million passengers, and that the metro system’s annual total ridership will reach 5 million by 2020.

Long-term plans remain in place for a fourth, fifth and sixth Cairo Metro line.

Orascom Construction said it “has played an integral role in the development of Cairo Metro and is well positioned for future metro awards”. The company’s shares are jointly listed on Nasdaq Dubai and the Egyptian Stock Exchange.

“The group is currently executing another package for the third phase of Cairo Metro line 3 and has previously completed significant work on the existing lines,” it said.

Alstom said its part of the contract covered infrastructure work, but had been accompanied by a signalling and telecoms system deal worth €85m being provided in a consortium with Thales, bringing its total contract values for phase three of line 3 to about €190m.

Earlier this year, Alstom secured an €80m share of a contract to provide signalling for phase 4a of line 3, a 5.7km spur covering five stations that is due for completion in 2018.

“We are pleased that NAT has entrusted Alstom with these new contracts,” said Gian-Luca Erbacci, Alstom’s senior vice president for the Middle East and North Africa.

“These new projects will undoubtedly strengthen our partnership with NAT that started more than 30 years ago. We are committed to accompany our customer in the further development of Cairo’s metro network to meet the growing demand for mobility.”

mfahy@thenational.ae

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