Around thirty representatives of national and foreign construction companies recently made a technical visit to the Gorongosa-Caia section of National Road Number One (EN1), between kilometres 84 and 168, in Sofala province. The visit took place as part of the public tender for Phase I of the EN1 rehabilitation project, which includes work on five sections totalling 508 kilometres, according to a statement.
The project, which is part of a strategic programme to modernise the country’s road infrastructure, is funded by the World Bank with an estimated budget of 29 billion meticais (400 million dollars). The main aim is to improve road accessibility and safety, as well as promoting regional socio-economic integration.
The technical visit to the Gorongosa-Caia stretch is one of the mandatory requirements for the competing contractors. The aim of this initiative was to provide more in-depth knowledge of the ground conditions and the complexity of the work, facilitating the preparation of technical and financial proposals.
During the visit, the contractors analysed potential sources of construction materials, such as inert borrow chambers, and other technical aspects essential for the execution of the work, in accordance with the parameters established by the project’s conceptual study.
In August, the Minister for Public Works, Housing and Water Resources, Carlos Mesquita, officially announced the launch of the public tender for the rehabilitation of the EN1. At the time, the minister emphasised the need to strictly comply with technical and regulatory requirements, ensuring the quality and durability of the works.
In the context of this tender, a workshop entitled ‘Safe Roads for Socio-Economic Integration (SRSEI) Programme’ was held in Gorongosa, the aim of which was to provide detailed information on Results and Performance Based Contracting (OPRC). The event covered the technical and financial procedures that bidders must follow to ensure compliance with the established standards.
Bids for the rehabilitation of the Gorongosa-Caia section must be submitted by 1 November 2024. Compliance with the technical requirements will be crucial in selecting the winning contractors. By the end of this year, three more lots of Phase I of the project are expected to be launched.
This project to rehabilitate the EN1 is considered fundamental for the country’s infrastructural development, not only because of the improvement in road conditions, but also because of the positive impact it will have on the socio-economic integration of the regions involved.
