Malaysian firms win $1.2bln Sudan rail deal- paper

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 (Reuters) – Malaysian engineering companies, PJI Holdings Bhd and Sumatec Resources Bhd , have won a 4.6 billion ringgit ($1.2 billion) railway contract in Sudan, a business weekly said on Friday.

Sudan awarded the four-year contract to build the 850-km (530-mile) rail track from Khartoum to Sennar to Trans Africa Railway Corp Sdn Bhd, a 70:30 joint-venture firm between PJI and Sumatec, The Edge reported, citing sources.

Trans Africa has appointed India’s Ircon International Ltd as a subcontractor for the project, while PJI will handle the mechanical and engineering works.

PJI was awarded a $111 million contract to build a bus terminal in the Malaysian capital last year. Sumatec does engineering works for the oil industry and has some projects in Sudan.

Shares of PJI, which was listed in December 2001, ended 5.4 percent higher at 4.72 ringgit on Tuesday. Shares of Sumatec, listed in September 2003, closed flat at 2.89 ringgit. The stock market was closed from Wednesday to Friday for Lunar New Year.