Morocco has finalized the prequalification process on the $700 million Guercif-Nador highway project. Spearheaded by the Equipment, Transport and Logistics Ministry, several Chinese and local firms have been prequalified. The scope of the project entails three lots of the 40-kilometer (km) section two of the Guercif to Nador highway. It is located between the regions of Saka and Driouch. The prequalified contractors are divided into three lots, with those from the first lot including local-based companies such as Mojazine Groupe and Les Grands Travaux Routiers (GTR).
Furthermore local-based companies NGE Contracting and Capep are in the lot alongside China-based China Road & Bridge Corporation (CRBC). Lot 2 entails most companies from the first lot alongside local-based Societe Bioui Travaux (SBTX) and Starport. International-based China International Water & Electric Corporation is also in the lot. Lastly, lot 3 entails companies from both lots such as SBTX, CRBC and Mojazine Group. Two major contractors, China Railway Construction Engineering Group and Enterprise Houar failed prequalification.
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The Scope of Implementation on the Guercif-Nador Highway Project
The 104 kilometers Guercif-Nador highway project is being implemented in three sections with prequalification for section 1 from Guercif to Saka done in late March. Estimated to cost $700 million, the project is being funded partly by the African Development Bank. On the other hand, Morocco is funding the remaining part of the cost. The project is part of the kingdom’s plans to upgrade its public infrastructure ahead of the 2030 Fifa World Cup. The tournament is a co-hosting between Morocco, Portugal and Spain. The plan entails the expansion of over 1,000 kilometers of highways across the nation. In May, Societe Nationale des Autoroutes du Maroc awarded $540 million of contractors for nine packages. The packages covered construction works on the Rabat-Casablanca continental expressway. The commitment shown by Morocco to improve its infrastructure shows its readiness to host the tournament and better transport across the nation.
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