KHARTOUM (AFP) — State-owned China Water and Electric Corp (CWE) and Sino-Hydro signed a 400-million dollar (255-million euro) deal on Sunday to raise the height of Sudan's oldest dam, in the southern Blue Nile state.
The capacity of the Roseires dam, built by the British colonial power in the early 20th century to irrigate Sudan's cotton fields, will rise from four billion cubic metres (140 billion cubic feet) to seven billion cubic metres (245 billion cubic feet).
The signing ceremony took place in Khartoum and was attended by President Omar al-Beshir, an AFP correspondent reported.
The project will cost 396 million dollars (253 million euros), to be provided mainly by Arab donors, and will be completed in just over four years.
China is a key investor in Sudan's economy and also the main buyer of its oil. It is often accused of turning a blind eye to Khartoum's repression of the insurgency in the western region of Darfur.
CWE is involved in the construction of the controversial Merowe dam in northern Sudan, where at least four people were killed in June when police dispersed residents protesting the project.
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