RE: such foolishness This directly from the government not a news reporter.
https://www.mfa.gov.et/news/more.php?newsid=718
Ethiopia signs a US$ 1.5 billion railway project (Jun 25, 2012)
The Ethiopian Railways Corporation (ERC) and China Communication Construction Company (CCCC) signed an agreement on Friday to build a new railway line from Mekelle Woldya to Hara Gebeya. The projected cost is US$1.5 billion. The Head of ERC, Getachew Betru, noted that the project would link Ethiopia’s northern regions with the new port being constructed at Tadjurah in Djibouti and would pass through the potash mining areas. It is part of the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) and is expected to be completed within the GTP timeframe. The GTP ends in 2015. The railway is also expected to attract a substantial amount of passenger traffic as well as freight on the Mekelle-Hara Gebeya segment, which is 260kms in length. Ato Getachew noted that the CCCC has been selected because of record of delivery and quality. The company has completed more than 20 projects in Ethiopia since 1998, and its Vice-President, Mr. Zhou Yongheng, pointed out that although the terrain of the project is complicated and there would be considerable construction difficulties in some areas, the CCCC Group would be mobilizing substantial resources to guarantee completion of the project. The signing of the project was witnessed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ato Hailemariam who is also the Board Chairman of ERC, as well as Ato Diriba Kuma, the Minister of Transport, and the Mayor of Mekelle city.