The city of Douala has invited private investors to finance, build and operate a 20-km tram line across Cameroon’s largest city, in a call dated 26 October. The line would run from the Bekoko interchange over the Wouri bridge to Ndogsimbi, at an estimated 400 billion CFA francs (about $700 million) under a concession of at least 30 years. It would be Cameroon’s first tram; an earlier plan, under which the mayor promised in 2022 to start works in 2023, never reached construction. The line would add mass transit to a corridor of about 1.5 million daily trips, but bidders must bring 30% equity and lender commitments and carry most of the ridership risk. Applications close on 25 February 2027.
Sources
- Business in Cameroon: https://www.businessincameroon.com/construction/3010-17085-douala-s-cfa400-billion-tram-project-raises-questions-over-who-will-bear-financial-risks
- Investir au Cameroun: https://www.investiraucameroun.com/travaux-publics/3010-24047-tramway-de-douala-400-milliards-de-fcfa-a-financer-des-clauses-contradictoires-sur-les-garanties