Libyan railway expansion

China Railway Construction has started construction of a LYD 2.2 billion (US$ 1.69 billion) railway project in Libya, according to Libyan state news agency Jana.

The 453 km railway will link the capital Tripoli with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's coastal home town of Sirte, and would connect Libya's factories and plants to its ports, said Jana.

The railway is part of Libya's plans to construct a railway network linking it to other African states, including neighbouring Maghreb countries - Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania.

Other foreign companies, including Russian Railways, will be involved in Libya's railway expansion plans.

China has been forging trade and investment ties with a number of African countries in an effort to tap into the continents energy and natural resources in an effort to help boost its economy.

The news follows the announcement that Russian Railways started construction of a 554 km-long twin-track railway linking Sirt and Benghaz in September.