Following an article entitled: « The Cotonou-Niamey Line : Pekin Rather Than Petrolin », published by Jeune Afrique last 26 January, which provided erroneous information on the "Epine Dorsale®" or Backbone Project®, Petrolin Group would like to make a few clarifications in this respect.
Indeed, contrary to what the magazine claims, Petrolin is the Concessionaire of the Cotonou-Parakou-Dosso-Niamey railway corridor and has never negotiated any transfer whatsoever of its rights against the construction of the deep-water port of Sèmè-Podji.
The construction of the port has been entrusted upon Petrolin by decree following the signing between the Republic of Benin and PIC Network, the infrastructure subsidiary of the Group, of a Special Convention, governed by a Public-Private Partnership Agreement executed by the State of Benin and Petrolin.
Therefore, in reaction to that article, Petrolin Group sent a right of reply to Jeune Afrique which you can access by clicking here.