New Capital of Southern Sudan..

By Julius N. Uma
October 28, 2011 (JUBA) - Sudan Tribune

Pan-China Construction Group, a Chinese company, has been awarded the lucrative contract to design Ramciel, the proposed location for South Sudan’s new capital, Sudan Tribune understands. The company reportedly beat off stiff competition from several bidders, including a South Korean firm, after they presented design proposals for construction of the new capital, which will be situated about 65 miles (105km) north of Juba, the country’s current capital.

“After months of intensive bidding, the government has finally awarded Pan-China Construction Group the multi-million dollar deal to design the new capital. Both parties are required to sign a memorandum of understanding before work can commence,” an official from South Sudan’s housing and physical planning ministry, who preferred anonymity, revealed.

South Sudan’s decision to relocate its capital, a few months after the country attained its independence on 9 July, resulted from a cabinet resolution. The Chinese company specialises in urban construction, according to its website.

Since its establishment in 1993, Pan-China has reportedly undertaken development, design, construction and project management for many high-profile projects. In Africa, for instance, the company has been awarded contracts in Angola, Tanzania and Nigeria.

In June this year, the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), a state-owned construction company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the southern government to cooperate broadly during the course of the construction of the new capital.

Lee Ji-song, LH’s chief executive officer, said in a statement that the agreement will encompass a broader aspect of cooperation, including mutual technical collaboration on the master plan for the new country’s capital.
http://www.sudantribune.com/Chinese-firm-wins-contract-for-S,40562


OK, Let me talk as an Urban Development Expert..
On 9th Feb 2011, I had posted about the early model developed at the USA for the new Capital at Ramcel.. http://adilsud.blogspot.com/2011/02/capital-at-ramcel.html

Yes, I had denounced the project, considering how huge the required investments, while other priorities are critical to sustain the newly born government and country..
Now, Chinese are coming with tractors instead of smuggled guns..!!
Certainly, they had offered parallel loans to fund the project, while granting back the bid.. Knowing that the profits will not be in the basic contract, but in the generated subcontracts for 10-30 years ahead..!
This is how urban developments works..
This is why it is a troubling job..!
In addition, GOSS has no adequate expertise to align the urban and real estate products to its own goals, nor has a smart mechanism to control the associated bribes and personal gains..

Enthusiasm and self recognition do not justify wasting lots of moneys on project with critical uncertainties: poor soil mechanics, absent regional accessibility, immature ecology management and chaotic sustainability.. Adding to this the required municipal management and services..

My initial calculations tell:
Plot 4,000,000 m2 (It is a Village not a City..!)
Infrastructure cost $ 150,000,000 (Probably the Chinese Contract..!)
Buildings $ 5,000,000,000 (Only value of proposals)
Population 80,000 (20% are GOSS Staff)
Still not talking about Transit, Economic Aggregates, Socioeconomic Patterns. etc..

P.S.; It is never successful to tender design and building a City in 8 months..!!!!