MADAGASCAR: Comazar Group subsidiary Madarail has been awarded a 25-year concession to operate the northern network in Madagascar from January 1 2003. The agreement was signed on October 10 by Minister for Privatisation Horace Constant and Comazar’s Managing Director Eric Peiffer. The concession can subsequently be extended every 10 years.
The government decided to issue a concession for the Northern rail network in 1995 and, with World Bank support, studies began in 1996. The government says that no jobs will be lost; all employees have the option to join Madarail or remain with state-owned RNCFM.
Two further agreements were also signed, providing a credit of €21m for rehabilitation of the Northern network and covering the costs of the transition period until the hand-over. It is expected that rail services will resume in February.
Comazar plans to develop an inland container terminal in Antananarivo, under a BOT scheme. This will ease the movement of goods to the capital, and reduce port congestion.
- RNCFM has resumed services between Antananarivo and Lake Alaotra, which had been suspended owing to extensive civil unrest.
