New Limpopo Bridge Ltd
Encyclopedia
New Limpopo Bridge Ltd., is a private company, incorporated and registered in Zimbabwe
, and is a subsidiary of NLPI
Ltd, an investment holding company, whose main investment focus is infrastructure-related projects on the continent of Africa
.
) basis.
The construction of the bridge was completed in a record time of thirteen months and was officially commissioned by the Presidents of Zimbabwe and South Africa, on 24 November 1995.
The company has been operating successfully, providing an efficient land link between South Africa and Zimbabwe and has become the major border interface between the two countries. It has computerized its systems to ease procedures for crossing the international border and this is complemented by the efficiency of the related government authorities. Another positive impact of modern infrastructure provided by the private sector, and more specifically the New Limpopo Bridge, has been the promotion of trade and development.
The adoption of the B.O.T. concept has proven to be a success story. In terms of this concept, the private sector assumes the responsibility of financing, designing, constructing and operating an infrastructure project for a set period, after which the asset is handed over to government in working condition free of charge. Such projects provide governments with the opportunity to redirect the funds otherwise earmarked for such projects, to other more demanding sectors such as education, health, housing etc.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, and is a subsidiary of NLPI
NLPI
NLPI Limited is an investment-holding company, registered in Mauritius, whose main investment focus is infrastructure-related projects on the continent of Africa...
Ltd, an investment holding company, whose main investment focus is infrastructure-related projects on the continent of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
History
In 1993, the need for private sector participation in infrastructure projects in southern Africa was identified by Mr. Mordechai Tager and Mr. Zion Elani. Hence, the Governments of Zimbabwe and South Africa were approached with a proposal to finance and build a toll bridge over the Limpopo River, on a B.O.T. (Build-Operate-TransferBuild-Operate-Transfer
Build-own-operate-transfer or build-operate-transfer is a form of project financing, wherein a private entity receives a concession from the private or public sector to finance, design, construct, and operate a facility stated in the concession contract...
) basis.
The construction of the bridge was completed in a record time of thirteen months and was officially commissioned by the Presidents of Zimbabwe and South Africa, on 24 November 1995.
The company has been operating successfully, providing an efficient land link between South Africa and Zimbabwe and has become the major border interface between the two countries. It has computerized its systems to ease procedures for crossing the international border and this is complemented by the efficiency of the related government authorities. Another positive impact of modern infrastructure provided by the private sector, and more specifically the New Limpopo Bridge, has been the promotion of trade and development.
The adoption of the B.O.T. concept has proven to be a success story. In terms of this concept, the private sector assumes the responsibility of financing, designing, constructing and operating an infrastructure project for a set period, after which the asset is handed over to government in working condition free of charge. Such projects provide governments with the opportunity to redirect the funds otherwise earmarked for such projects, to other more demanding sectors such as education, health, housing etc.