Getting RailroadedGoing Deeper and Alvarez,
There is no mention in any official Company studies of an operational railroad 10 miles from the project. They discuss regional rail options, but nothing local. And they all end the rail section (5.1.3) exactly the same way:
"The condition of and access to the current rail infrastructure in the DRC make rail a less viable option for inbound Project logistics."
Now how is it possible that a qualified person, either professional engineer or geologist, failed to mention even once, that there is a perfectly good railroad just 10 miles from Kakula?
Maybe because it's a dilapidated, rusting, piece of junk that hasn't seen any use in decades, and no one considered it worth mentioning?
I have a few questions:
When was the last time a train passed 10 miles from Kakula?
Can a person buy a ticket and travel 10 miles from Kakula by train?
And more to the point, how much will IVN have to spend to restore rail service?
I don't have any problem with IVN building rail access. It goes with the territory and is a lot more efficient than transport by truck. I'm sure they'll resolve the issue in time if the project advances as expected.