Now Chinese president xiin ping has announced $51 billion of financing fresh financing for Africa during the Forum on China Africa cooperation Summit in Beijing there is no doubt whatsoever that China is one of the greatest powers in the world right now in fact there have been a lot of debates as to whether it is bigger than the United States but if there's one thing that makes China superior to the US it is its Mega projects and how they are trans forming Africa's future but what exactly are these projects and how have they been beneficial to the growth of the African continent let's get into it the suap Hydro power project Guinea we're starting off this list with the saap Hydro power project in Guinea this project is a very big Power Plant in Guinea built on the korri river it was made by a Chinese company called China international Water and Electric Corporation this project cost over $1. 4 billion finished in 2020 the saap dam can make 450 megaw of electricity this means it makes a lot of energy for guinea almost doubling the country's power supply before many people in businesses in Guinea didn't have enough power with so a py now they do this extra power is very helpful for people and also for big Industries in Guinea like mining mining uses a lot of electricity so having more power is good for these businesses this project has has helped Guinea grow its economy by making sure more people and industries have power but not everything is perfect the suap dam has also caused some problems building the dam flooded a lot of land this means some people had to leave their homes and animals lost their natural habitats the government and the company need to keep looking at these effects to make sure they take care of the people and the environment if you think this Mega project is interesting wait till you see what's next on this list Ley free trade zone Nigeria next on this list is the Ley free trade zone also known as the lftz the Ley free trade zone is a huge area near Lagos Nigeria it is an Industrial and Commercial Zone which means it's a place for factories companies and lots of business activities it covers a very big space about 16,500 hectares which is a lot of land this Zone was developed with help from Chinese companies who helped build it inside the Ley free trade zone there is a special Port called the Ley deep sea port this port is made to handle a lot of shipping containers every year which are large metal boxes used for shipping Goods the port is expected to become Nigeria's biggest Port bringing in lots of products from other countries and helping Nigeria trade with the world the Ley free trade zone is very important for Nigeria's plans to grow its economy it's a place to attract investors who are people and companies from other countries who want to do business in Nigeria this project is also expected to create many new jobs which means it will give people more work opportunities the government hopes lftz will make Nigeria's economy stronger and help people have better lives Port of bamoo Tanzania the port of bamoo is a huge project in Tanzania near dares Salam this port is being built to help East Africa with its trade the project will cost about $10 billion which is a very big amount of money it is meant to handle a large number of shipping containers about 20 million teus each year teus are units used to count containers which carry Goods on ships countries like Uganda Rwanda and Burundi can send their goods through bamoo to other countries far away this makes it easier for these countries to grow their economies and make more money the port has had some delays so it is not finished yet but if it is completed it could change the way East Africa does business with other players Tanzania hopes that the port will make it a central place for trade in East Africa by having a port that big and modern Tanzania will become a major trade Hub helping many people and businesses in the region there's more subra hydroelectric Dam in Ivory Coast the subra hydroelectric dam is a big project in Ivory Coast it cost about $572 million to build and most of the money came from China this dam is very important because it helps Ivory Coast make its own electricity the electricity it generates is around 275 megaw which is a big amount of power this Dam allows Ivory Coast to depend Less on other countries for energy it helps the country produce its own power which is called Energy Independence because the dam makes so much electricity Ivory Coast can even share extra power with nearby countries building the sub Dam wasn't easy the builders a Chinese company called Ceno Hydro had to over come many problems like dealing with tough land and lots of rain but they finished the project in 2017 the sub dam is a big achievement for Ivory Coast's energy plans thanks to this Dam more people in Ivory Coast have power and the country is in a better position for the future Nairobi Mombasa standard gauge Railway Kenya the Nairobi Mombasa standard gauge Railway is a major Railway line in Kenya it connects two important cities Nairobi and Mombasa making travel much faster this Railway cost about $3. 2 billion to build with most of the funding coming from China the Chinese company China Road and Bridge Corporation worked hard to finish it and now the journey that used to take 10 hours by Road only takes about 4.
5 hours by train this Railway is a big part of China's belt and Road initiative this initiative is China's plan to build roads Railways and other projects in different countries to make trade and travel easy easier because of this Railway Kenya has become an important transport Hub meaning it connects people and goods helping trade grow the railway has been very helpful for Kenya's economy it lets people and goods move more quickly which is good for businesses but some people wonder about China's influence in Africa through projects like this one they ask if Kenya and other African countries might become too dependent on China still the railway has changed transportation in Kenya bringing many benefits and creating new opportunities for people and businesses walvis Bay Container Terminal expansion Namibia up next is the walvis bay Container Terminal expansion in Namibia this Mega project was completed in 2019 and cost about $300 million this project made the walvis Bay Port much bigger now the port can handle up to 750,000 containers every year before this it was much smaller and could only manage fewer containers with this expans mention walvis Bay has become a very important place for trade in southern Africa the project was led by a company from China called China Harbor engineering they helped make the port larger and more efficient by doing this it made it easier for ships from other countries to bring Goods to Namibia and take goods from Namibia to other places this new and improved Port is part of a bigger Plan called a regional Corridor this plan connects countries in southern Africa to each other through better roads port and Railways now countries like Zambia batswana and Zimbabwe can use walvis Bay to send and receive Goods faster thanks to this expansion Namibia can trade more easily with other countries which helps the economy grow and creates new jobs for people caculo kabaka hydr power project Angola the caculo kabaka hydr power project is a big energy project in Angola it is located on the K Quanza River a large river in the country this project is costing around $4. 5 billion to build and it is being led by a company from China called China gooa group when the dam is finished it will be able to produce 2,172 megaw of power that is a lot of energy and will help Angola get much more electricity than before the new power from the dam will help people in Angola use electricity in their homes and businesses it will also support other Industries which will help the country grow the project could also help neighbor countries by allowing them to buy energy from Angola this makes the dam a very important project for the whole region but like some of the other projects on this list building the dam is not without problems there are concerns about how it will affect the environment the dam could change the land and water around it which might hurt plants animals and people who live there despite these challenges the project is seen as very important for Angola's future next we have another Nigerian base e China Mega project let's find out what it is mambilla hydroelectric power project Nigeria the mambilla hydroelectric power project is a very big and important energy project in Nigeria it is being built on the donga river which is a large river in the country this Dam project will cost around $5. 8 billion to complete it is being built by a Chinese company called Co hydro which is very good at making big projects like this the dam is expected to create 3,00 50 megaw of power which is a lot of energy this will be enough to provide electricity to millions of homes across Nigeria the mambila dam started being built in 2018 and when it is finished it will greatly improve the electricity Supply in Nigeria the country has often faced power shortages but this new dam will help solve that problem it will give more people in Nigeria access to electricity for their homes and businesses once the mambila project is finished it will help making Nigeria's power supply stronger and more reliable the next Mega project will have you more impressed Suez economic and trade cooperation Zone Egypt the Suz economic and trade cooperation zone is a big industrial park in Egypt it is located next to the famous Suez Canal which is one of the most important waterways in the world the park covers an area of about 33.
4 Mi which is a lot of space the project is funded by China and managed by a company called tianin economic technological Development Area also known as Tida TAA is good at managing large business areas like this one many different companies that make products or work in factories are based in the Suez economic zone these companies are helping Egypt by making things that can be sold in other countries this helps Egypt's economy grow because it brings in money from other parts of the world it also creates a lot of jobs for people in Egypt many people now work in this park and it has helped thousands of workers find jobs overall the Suz economic and trade cooperation zone is helping Egypt's economy become better and more successful colomba New City Angola colomba new city is a big project in Angola built by China international trust Investment corporation also known as cic this new city is near Luanda which is the capital of Angola the goal of the project is to help solve the housing problems in Luanda many people in Luanda needed place to live and colomo was made to help with this issue the project cost $3. 5 billion and includes many modern things like Apartments schools and shops it is a place where many people can live work and Shop the city can hold up to 500,000 people making it a very large place at first not many people moved into Coloma and many apartments stayed empty this was a problem because the city was new and people weren't sure about living there but over time more people started to move into Coloma slowly it began to grow into a busy urban center colomba shows what China can do when it comes to building large cities China has cracked the code against desert encroachment the northern and Northwestern regions of China were once plagued with a terrible onslaught of desertification which resulted in devastating floods and the loss of precious farmlands vital vegetation and even homes the Silver Lining is that the intense desertification is now a thing of the past as there has been a notable 70% survival rate of planted materials and 40% restoration of vegetation thanks to a strategic blend of innovative techniques deployed by scientists to combat this formidable threat to economic stability and sustainable progress how did they Triumph what ingenious methods were employed join us on a trip to a land with the world's second largest economy to discover the ining tale of resilience and Ingenuity did you know that deserts engulf 27% of China's territory that's right almost a quarter of this incredible country is covered in sand and emptiness suppose we focus on the western half of China in that case we will see some of the most formidable deserts on Earth starting from the taklamakan desert and the GOI desert which command this region painting it in Hues of golden sand and endless Horizons these deserts like the tarim Basin and the taklamakan desert rank among our planet's driest and most desolate places but amidst the desert expanse there are remarkable wonders like the third largest desert in China the badine Jan desert characterized by its gigantic dunes and then there's the crown jewel of China's desert Empire the GOI desert an expansive desert and semi-desert region in Central Asia extending across Mongolia and China the name GOI originates from the Mongolian word GOI which means water less place it's the sixth largest desert in the world covering about 500,000 square miles just so we have a better picture of the remarkable GOI let's paint a vivid picture of its unique characteristics and geographical features unlike what you might imagine the GOI is not predominantly a sandy desert instead it is a breathtaking landscape of bare rock with a firm and often Rocky terrain adorned with gravel and sparse vegetation this means that you can journey across the desert surface for long distances in any direction without being swallowed by towering Dunes the GOI stretches 1,000 Mi 1,600 km from Southwest to Northeast and 500 Mi 800 km from north to south its widest point lies in the west where Lake Boston and Lop noore meet along the line joining 87° 89° East resting on a plateau around 2,990 to 4,990 ft 9 110 to 1,520 m above sea level the GOI experiences lower temperatures due to its elevated position now let's explore the captivating ecosystem and vegetation that thrive within the GOI here you'll encounter a unique blend of true desert desert grasslands and step Scholars recognize five distinct Eco regions within the GOI including the Eastern GOI desert step and the inner Mongolian desert step amidst this remark able desert you'll stumble upon a variety of Flora including the resilient saxo tree elm tree popler tree salt wild onions desert Shrubbery bulbous plants wild leak and grasses the GOI occupies a vast Arc of land nestled between the Majestic alai mountains and hangan mountains to the North and the western edge of the dingan greater kingan range to the east what happened to the GOI desert sadly over the years years the GOI desert began to change the desert could be seen expanding and losing its vegetation as the years passed each year 3,600 Square km of precious grassland fell victim to the Relentless advance of the desert it was a heartbreaking sight as the once Lush and vibrant Meadows succumbed to the Relentless forces of nature as if that wasn't enough dust storms began to haunt the land increasingly frequently these storms happen a lot sometimes 3 to 10 times a month destroying crops and damaging buildings and roads but it is not just the crops that suffer the sandstorms also took their toll on the fragile infrastructure of the GOI it got so bad that the residents could see their houses and Roads get destroyed right before their eyes leaving them with the choice to either stay and keep fighting for their precious land or leave and go to the cities where life might be easier yes they suffered but what if you were told they had a role in the deteriorating dis desertification people sought to claim their piece of the GOI as the population grew they flocked to the desert planting trees in the natural Dunes hoping to tame the wild landscape little did they know that their actions would have unintended consequences the trees thirsty for water began to drain the soil of its precious moisture the groundwater table once a Lifeline for the delicate balance of the ecosystem plummeted to dangerous lows and before we would know it the desert short of water seized the opportunity and expanded its territory inch by inch as the goby desert succumbed to the forces of desertification the dreams of those who sought to conquer the desert turned to dust apart from the GOI desert Ling Wu County nestled on the edge of the mighty Mau desert in China also faced the challenge of desert encroachment lingwu County receives a mere 160 mm of rainfall each year which is in significant compared to the evaporation rate of over 2,000 mm this imbalance between rainfall and evaporation is causing trouble because the moment raindrops touch the Earth they start disappearing Into Thin Air to make matters worse the sun's Rays Scorch the ground and the little moisture Left Behind evaporates leaving the land even drier with this reduced soil moisture plants struggle to survive they wither and Fade Away making the once Lush vegetation a memory to further aggravate the already ugly situation Ling Wu County faces another threat as the winds blow across the Mau desert they carry tiny particles of sand towards the nearby Yellow River raising the riverbed and putting the landscape at a high flood risk what efforts were put into curbing the desertification China was challenged with alas Redemption came for Northwest China as the Relentless expansion of the GOI desert which has posed a significant challenge for decades has received fresh air talking about the great green wall project the great green wall is a remarkable project that seeks to combat desertification by planting trees it's a simple yet powerful idea that is key to transforming the GOI Desert from a wasteland to a thriving Oasis but it's not just about the environment the great green wall promises economic prosperity and Social Development this African Le initiative launched in 2007 by the the African Union aims to tackle desertification improve soil fertility and promote sustainable land use practices in the Sahel region by planting trees and other vegetation to create a wall of greenery the goals of the great green wall are as ambitious as they are inspiring the initiative aims to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land set apart 250 million tons of carbon and create 10 million green jobs by 2030 it's a bold commitment to address various challenges from climate change and food security to migration and resourc driven conflicts aside from the great green wall project the world bank's ninia desertification control and ecological protection project has also come on board to save the day and the landscape from Desert encroachment with its Grand Vision this project also aims to combat desertification headon rehabilitate natural vegetation and introduce effective measures to protect the environment it's an initiative to address the historical challenge of desert and encroachment in the ninga autonomous region this is the world bank's way of lending support and recognizing the urgency and importance of the cause since 2012 the project has been making impressive strides in the battle against desertification it focuses on Seven Counties and cities in ninia where the problem is most severe for this course the World Bank has approved a loan of 80 million US dollar to Aid in the fight against desertification and land degradation in this region with this financial backing the project has implemented various activities that yield remarkable results one of the Project's key achievements is the restoration of vegetation by carefully planting trees and shrubs the project has stabilized dunes and prevented further desertification thankfully the survival rate of these planted materials stands at an astounding 70% in comparison the project has successfully restored vegetation cover to 40% effectively stopping the relent shifting of Dunes the Project's impacts extend beyond vegetation restoration it has brought approximately 6,667 hectar of the desert under control a significant feat in itself moreover it has protected more than 2 1,333 hectares of desert ensuring the preservation of sensitive ecosystems but how does the World Bank managed to achieve these incredible results aforestation planting trees and shrubs was crucial in stab izing the sand dunes and thwarting desertification grassland restoration was another vital component as it involved improving the quality of grasslands and reducing overgrazing water conservation measures such as the construction of small scale facilities like check dams and reservoirs were also implemented to enhance water availability and combat soil erosion additionally soil conservation techniques like terracing and contour plowing were employed to reduce erosion and make maintain healthy soil conditions the project doesn't stop at the technical aspects of combating desertification it recognizes the importance of engaging local organizations and communities in its implementation community-based organizations are established to manage natural resources and promote sustainable land use practices farmers and herders who play a significant role in Land Management are provided with support and guidance to improve grassland quality and reduce overgrazing as a result the project creates a sense of ownership and responsibility among the local communities ensuring the sustainability of the implemented measures the World Bank funded project in ninia has made significant progress in combating desertification and has had a profound impact on the Region's development by creating a barrier against encroaching deserts the project has safeguarded key infrastructure including Railways and highways this in turn has stimulated the growth of a thriving tour industry breathing new life into the Region's economy then there is the Shane initiative brought about by the Shan Conservation Center a non-governmental organization in China that aims to restore 10 million hectares of natural spaces including forests grasslands and waterways ensuring that these precious habitats Thrive again it encompasses 75 large scale projects covering everything from towering mountains to Serene Coastal estuaries China has set an ambitious timeline for the initiative between 2021 and 2030 the country aims to complete 50 projects spanning 700 counties this massive undertaking is expected to create more than 3.
