Kuwaiti fund extends $52.5 mln loan to finance phase 2 of Merowe Dam
August 25, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese government and the Kuwait Fund for Economic Development Monday signed a loan agreement of 52, 5 million US dollars to complete the second phase of Merowe Dam.
The project has a river basin area of 2,87 million km2. River diversion is carried out by a two-phase approach: First, the right river channel is closed using upstream and downstream cofferdams to construct concrete structures.
The height of both cofferdams in the right channel is designed for a flood of 12,300 m3/s through the left channel.
During the second phase of diversion, the river is diverted through low-level sluices of the spillway to construct the cofferdams and the embankment dam in the left river channel.
The Minister of Finance and National Economy, Awad Ahmed Al-Jaz, inked the agreement on behalf of the Government of Sudan, while the Director of the Kuwait Fund for Economic Development, Abdul-Wahab Al-Badr, signed for the Kuwaiti fund.
Addressing the signing ceremony, at the premises of the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, Al-Jaz commended the contribution of the Kuwaiti Fund for Economic Development with regard to the achievement of socio-economic development in Sudan.
He explained that Merowe Dam is not only for the benefit of the people of Sudan, but also for the interest of the Arab brothers. The minister briefed the Kuwait delegation on the tremendous resources in Sudan, a matter that qualifies it to contribute to alleviating the international food crisis.
The project is funded by the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Development, the Arab Economic and Development Fund, the Saudi Development Fund, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Sultanate of Oman and Qatar State. It is constructed by the two Chinese firms.
The Director of the Kuwait Fund for Economic Development, Al-Badr, described the Merowe Dam as an Arab project that would contribute to enhancing the conditions of the people in Sudan and the region.
He further promised to finance other projects in Sudan towards consolidating the relations of fraternity among the Arab nations.
(ST)
DAVID N.
Kuwaiti fund extends $52.5 mln loan to finance phase 2 of Merowe Dam
The Merowe Dam will be the disaster projects for Nubian peoples. It will suddenly destroy the historical sites of ancient Nubian arts. The Khartoum should stop it build the Merowe Dam in the cities of Nubia.