China has pledged to enhance its extensive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), promising “high-quality cooperation” in advance of a summit with African leaders in Beijing starting Wednesday.
Africa remains a vital region for the BRI, with Chinese companies securing contracts worth over $700 billion in the continent from 2013 to 2023, according to China’s commerce ministry.
Despite this, some critics argue that the BRI has burdened African nations with massive debt and funded projects that harm the environment.
Here’s a closer look at five significant BRI projects in Africa:
Kenya’s Unfinished Railway
Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway, financed by the Exim Bank of China, links Nairobi to Mombasa, reducing travel time from 10 hours to 4 since its opening in 2017.
At $5 billion, it is Kenya’s largest infrastructure project since its independence over 60 years ago.
However, the planned extension to Uganda was halted due to financial difficulties faced by both nations.
The project has also faced corruption claims and environmental criticism for its route through a wildlife park.
President William Ruto recently sought a $1 billion loan from China to complete other stalled BRI projects, with Kenya’s debt to China exceeding $8 billion.
Port Development in Djibouti
China established its first permanent overseas naval base in Djibouti in 2016 and subsequently helped develop the Doraleh multi-purpose port.
The military base, valued at approximately $590 million, is strategically located between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
While Beijing asserts that the base supports regional peacekeeping, humanitarian efforts, and anti-piracy measures, its proximity to a US base has raised espionage concerns.
The Doraleh port is partially owned by China Merchants Port Holdings, which acquired a stake after Djibouti took control of the terminal from UAE-based DP World.
DP World alleges it was ousted to facilitate Chinese involvement.
Africa’s Longest Suspension Bridge
In Mozambique, the China Road and Bridge Corporation constructed Africa’s longest suspension bridge, linking Maputo with Katembe.
The bridge, which opened in 2018 at a cost of approximately $786 million (95% funded by Chinese loans), replaced the ferry service and the lengthy drive on unpaved, flood-prone roads.
Critics, however, argue that the bridge was overvalued and that loan interest rates are too high.
Mining Investments in Botswana and Beyond
Recent BRI investments have increasingly focused on mining minerals essential for China’s high-tech and green industries.
In 2023, China invested $7.8 billion in African mining, including a $1.9 billion acquisition of the Khoemacau mine in Botswana, one of the world’s largest copper mines.
Additionally, Chinese firm JCHX Mining Management purchased Zambia’s Lubambe copper mine for $2, and China has invested in cobalt and lithium mines across Zambia, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
However, regional conflicts, such as the suspension of mining in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo in July, have occasionally disrupted investments.
Coal and Renewable Energy
Chinese investments in power generation in Africa have faced environmental criticism.
A planned coal-fired power plant in Kenya, near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lamu Old Town, was canceled in 2020 following protests.
In 2021, President Xi Jinping declared China would no longer support overseas coal power projects, leading to the withdrawal of support for Zimbabwe’s $3 billion Sengwa coal project.
Instead, Chinese funds are now backing the expansion of the Kariba Hydroelectric Power Station in Zimbabwe and the $4.9 billion Mambilla hydroelectric plant in Nigeria,
Which will be the country’s largest power station.
A recent white paper from China’s State Council Information Office highlights a shift towards supporting green transition projects through the BRI.
