Bashagha Government: China to Finance Implementation of Libya’s Metro Project

On Monday, the Libyan Parliament-designated government, headed by Fathi Bashagha signed an agreement with a consortium of international companies, to complete the implementation of the metro project, with Chinese financing amounting to €30 billion euros.

In an interview with Sputnik, Minister of Investment, Ali Al-Saidi said that they signed an agreement to establish a metro in cooperation with a consortium of foreign companies, including BFI Group Corp, China Railway Group Limited (CREC), the Arup Group Limited, and Siemens AG.

The minister added that China will be the main financier of this project, noting that the agreement for the project “does not impose any funding from the general treasury of the Libyan state.”

He noted that the project will be completed within 7 to 9 years.

The minister explained that this project “was agreed upon by the former regime, as part of the ‘Libya Tomorrow’ project, but it was disrupted due to the decade-long conflicts that plagued the North African country.

Al-Saidi indicated that Libya is considered a strategic center, as it links the Mediterranean sea with the desert. He added that China “wants to find a foothold in Libya in order to invest in the African continent.”

He pointed out that the project also provides 800 solar-powered buses to the metro stations, adding: “We are talking about a comprehensive infrastructure of roads.”

The agreement comes after a series of meetings to implement various reconstruction projects in Libyan cities and villages, especially with regard to roads, transportation, hospitals, and others.

On his part, Deputy Prime Minister, Ali Al-Qatrani said that the reconstruction projects in Libya will contribute to improving the quality of life for citizens in all regions of the country.

In April, Bashagha announced the “Development of a Nation” project. He said his government will allocate 1.5 billion Libyan dinars for the national project.

“Despite the difficulties and limited capabilities, my government seeks to maintain stability and serve the citizen,” Bashagha said.

He has also allocated 100 million Libyan dinars to provide medicine for patients with tumours, kidney issues, and a number of chronic diseases.

Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations, each backed by rogue militias and foreign governments.

The current stalemate grew out of the failure to hold elections in December 2021, and the refusal of Prime Minister Dbaiba, who is leading the transitional government, to step down. In response, the country’s eastern-based Parliament appointed Bashagha, who has sought to install his government in Tripoli for months.