Tunnel projects feasible |05 July 2019

Representatives from the Ministry of Habitat, Infrastructure and Land Transport before the COGA

Two major tunnel projects and five land reclamation projects proposed by the government were scrutinised by the Committee on Government Assurances of the National Assembly in a sitting yesterday morning.

Officials from the Ministry of Habitat, Infrastructure and Land Transport, namely principal secretary for infrastructure Yves Choppy, principal secretary for the department of land transport Patrick Andre and member of the Tunnel Project Committee Patrick Joseph, appeared before the committee to address questions pertaining to the purpose of the proposed projects, financial implications and foreseeable impacts on surrounding communities and the environment.

The two proposed tunnels, one from Providence to Barbarons (Cascade and Grand Anse Mahé) and the other from Beau Vallon to English River were announced by President Danny Faure in the State of the Nation address on March 6, 2018. During his address, President Faure stated that a feasibility study has been carried out and that the first tunnel, from Cascade to Grand Anse Mahé, will be constructed first. The tunnel will serve as a motorable road access while also facilitating the distribution of water, sewage and electricity and is argued to lead to a growth in the local economy while also reducing operational costs for local business organisations.

Furthermore, the tunnel is expected to ease the transportation of construction materials for projects in the region such as the dam at Grand Anse.

According to PS Choppy, the aim of the project is to establish a road linking West Mahé with East Mahé to create more opportunities for development in West Mahé. A tunnel linking Providence to Barbarons will ease development as it will facilitate the transportation of goods and merchandise and will also be beneficial for commercial projects in West Mahé since there is more undeveloped land in that particular region.

As per President Faure’s announcement, construction of the tunnel could also make available a larger supply of construction materials, which can be used for other projects such as rock armouring for sites to be reclaimed.

PS Choppy affirmed that the government is prioritising the Providence to Grand Anse tunnel as it will reap more economical benefits.

“The tunnel is around 4km long and it is the top priority. The road across La Misère is an estimated 10km and it is mountainous so a road of 4km will have many benefits and with tunnels, the road will be mostly flat,” PS Choppy explained to the committee.

The road from Beau Vallon to English River is around 5km and the tunnel will reduce this to 2.5km.

Towards the end of 2017, the ministry recruited a consultant to carry out a pre-feasibility study covering evaluation of the sites, geologic description, specifications of the tunnel, estimation of the construction costs amongst others and a final report was submitted in July 2018.

“The report states that the projects are possible technically, the favoured construction method, the width of the tunnel for the traffic we are expecting which is 4000 to 6000 vehicles per day and the duration of the project will be between 30-42 months, meaning 3 to 3.5 years for both tunnels,” PS Choppy stated.

The estimation for the Providence to Grand Anse tunnel is €54 million (approximately R864 million) while the second tunnel from Beau Vallon to English River is estimated to cost €31.4 million (approximately R502.4 million). Cost estimations cover the construction of the tunnels, the lining, roads, equipment such as mechanical ventilation, lights, safety equipment and connecting roads to a major existing road.

Following discussions between the government of Seychelles and the government of China, in September 2018, the Chinese government provided a technical team to conduct a survey into the preliminary design of the project. The government has also appointed a technical committee comprising Bertrand Belle as chairperson, PS Choppy himself, PS for Transport Patrick Andre and Patrick Joseph as a geologist as well as the principal secretary for environment Alain de Comarmond.

Asked how the government intends to finance the project, PS Choppy said an economic study needs to be carried out to weigh up the economic benefits of the project before the government decides how to fund it.

He noted however that the government is looking into a grant or public-private-partnership (PPP). For the time being, there is no indication that the project will be funded by the budget under capital projects, although PS Choppy said “it is something that we cannot completely rule out”.

Coga member Honourable Sylvanne Lemiel queried about the implications of such a large-scale project on the environment, a cause for concern for many citizens.

Mr Joseph assured the committee that the environment is a major consideration of the project and that advanced and detailed studies and geo-technical analysis and environmental impact assessments (EIA) need to be carried out in a bid to minimise the impact on the environment.

He, however, stated that the project is feasible and “ideal” from a geological point of view and asserted that the project will benefit the country in the long-term.

The government will decide whether the project will go ahead once studies have concluded and public consultations as the planning of the project progresses.

Land reclamation projects

COGA members also sought more information from PS Choppy and PS Andre on five land reclamation projects, also announced by President Faure during his address in March 2018.

According to Chair of COGA, Honourable Gervais Henrie, President Faure announced that there is a land reclamation project going on at Providence by a Seychellois-owned company and it is creating a surface of more than 7000m2 to be put at the disposition of at least 10 auto and boat repair businesses and that the land will be managed by the Industrial Estates Authority (IEA).

He continued to state that the announcement also stated that an area of 15000 m2, also under the management of IEA for use by Class 2 contactors will be available. Furthermore, that the government made land under the management of the private sector in Grand Anse Mahé, Anse Royale and Baie St Anne Praslin for leisure and recreational activities such as discotheques.

PS Choppy confirmed that the land reclamation project for auto and boat repair has been completed and handed over to IEA but the infrastructure to be used in the area is currently being finalised.

Similarly for the second project for small contractors, PS Choppy said the infrastructure remains to be finalised but is in the design phase. The ministry will decide upon completion of the design whether to issue a tender for the construction of the infrastructure or whether to extend the contract of a contractor carrying out work in Zone 20 of the Industrial Estate.

With regard to the projects to be managed by the private sector, PS Choppy noted that the sites have already been selected and that the Seychelles Investment Bureau (SIB) and the ministry are in the process of making it available to interested persons.

The land reclamation project for the private sector was constructed by Vijay Construction.

With regard to a question forwarded by Honourable Clive Roucou as to whether the contractor who carried out the reclamation work at the site designated for Class 2 contractors was given a plot on the reclaimed land despite not falling into the Class 2 contractor category, PS Choppy revealed that there was indeed an exchange of land for labour, although the government provided the needed material for the project.

Another question regarding land reclamation projects stemmed from Assurance 18, also announced by President Faure stating that the government will create an additional 5 hectares of land around Ile Hodoul to help with the development of the Victoria bypass and Victoria Waterfront. Ile Aurore is to be extended by 19 hectares for touristic and residential purposes, a further 40 hectares in the vicinity of Providence to create more space for industrial activities. Furthermore, the assurance states a further 8 hectares at the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) at Roche Caiman, 10 hectares in Grand Anse Praslin for a marina and touristic activities at a cost of €67 million.

PS Choppy confirmed that 6 sites are being proposed for land reclamation projects asserting that the demand for land reclamation projects is continuously increasing and will serve to benefit the entire population.

“There is a proposition for an island north of Providence but this will be a private-sector development that the government will tender out for real-estate purposes,” PS Choppy noted.

He further noted that the estimated costs have been revised since the announcement, and that it is now estimated to cost around €48 million.

PS Choppy added that Seychellois stand to benefit from the projects including acquiring second properties at the Victoria Waterfront project and others including residential plans from which they can reap an economic benefit. Moreover, he noted that business owners will also benefit from increased business with the projects.

The ministry is looking into undertaking the project at Ile Aurore first due to financial constraints and the inability to borrow money from external banks which offer lower interest on account of the debt ceiling.