In June, China Railway Construction Corp. (CRCC) announced a joint deal with Russian Railways to build a train line between Sirt and Benghazi in Libya. In 2008, the CRCC won the contract to build 352 km of railway along the Algerian coast from Khoms to Sirt, and a further 172 km from Tripoli to Ras Ejder on the border with Tunisia, plus an 800-km railway line between Misratah and Wadi Shatti. Construction plans were delayed for two years because of the popular uprising that eventually ousted dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. (The country is currently ruled by an interim leader who was elected in June.) The reasons behind Beijing’s interest in Libya are clear — it has largest oil reserves in Africa and production has already returned to prerevolution levels.
Launched: 2008
Cost: $12 billion (split with Russia Railways)