Chinese Government provides RMB 1 billion loan facility to support multiple projects (linked to Record ID#s #1334, #1242, #61032, #61034, #61036, #61037, #1241, and #62351)

Chinese Government provides RMB 1 billion loan facility to support multiple projects On February 5, 2007, on an official tour across Africa, Chinese President Hu Jintao pledged to provide an RMB 1 billion concessional loan facility to be used at the discretion of the Government of Namibia.

Then, in December 2007, China Eximbank and the Government of Namibia signed an RMB 1 billion concessional loan framework agreement, which identified several projects that would be funded according to a consistent set of terms and conditions.

These projects reportedly included an RMB 300 million loan for the Modern Customs Scanning Equipment Acquisition Project (recorded in Record ID#1241), an RMB 44 million loan for the Electronics Document and Record Management Systems (EDRMS) Project (recorded in Record ID#1242), a $16.4 million loan for road construction in Eiseb Block Phase I (recorded in Record ID#61037), and a $748,357 loan for Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) laboratories (recorded in Record ID#61032).

An additional RMB 645 million was reportedly set aside for three projects: Phase 2 of the Northern Railway Line Extension Project (recorded in Record ID#1334), the Oshakati State Hospital Renovation Project (recorded in Record ID#61034), and the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation Renovation Project (recorded in Record ID#61036).

This framework agreement was signed by China’s Ambassador to Namibia Ren Xiaoping and Nambia’s Minister of Finance Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.

He told a local newspaper, 'We did not suspend any agreements; we just told them that the terms were too burdensome for our financial situation.’ The following details reflect the current implementation status of each of the known projects under this loan facility: Modern Customs Scanning Equipment Acquisition Project (Record ID#1241): This project was engulfed in scandals, and it is unclear whether all the promised funding went through.

Electronics Document and Record Management Systems (EDRMS) Project (Record ID#1242): This project was officially completed and handed over to the Namibian authorities on May 27, 2009.

Road construction in Eiseb Block Phase I (Record ID#61037): Implementation status of this project/related funding is unclear.

Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) laboratories (Record ID#61032): New laboratories were opened, but it is unclear whether Chinese funding was deployed towards construction.

Phase 2 of the Northern Railway Line Extension Project (Record ID#1334): This project was completed in 2012, without funding from China Eximbank.

After receiving an overpriced quote from CMEC for completion of the project, the Government of Namibia suspended its contract with CMEC. Oshakati State Hospital Renovation Project (Record ID#61034): Renovations are ongoing. It is unclear whether Chinese funding has been used.

Namibian Broadcasting Corporation Renovation Project (Record ID#61036): In 2021, it was announced that NBC would receive 58 million NAD for renovation and network upgrades. It is unclear whether Chinese funding is involved.