LGV Kénitra-Marrakech: CR20 Speeds Up Equipment for Lot 5
China Railway 20th Bureau (CR20), a Chinese company, is advancing steadily on its construction project for the high-speed rail line (LGV) between Kénitra and Marrakech. As a subsidiary of the China Railway Construction Corporation specializing in railway infrastructure and civil engineering, CR20 has just completed two new contracts to equip lot 5, which spans a distance of 35.4 kilometers.
Two announcements regarding the outcomes were published on August 30 on the Chinese procurement platforms, related to the acquisition of a rebar bender and a stone screener. The rebar bender was contracted for 145,500 yuan, roughly equivalent to 203,000 dirhams, while the stone screener was awarded for 232,760 yuan, or nearly 325,000 dirhams.
A Strategic 35.4 Kilometer Stretch
Lot 5 stretches between the kilometer points PK 401+366 and PK 436+800. In this sector, CR20 is responsible for several categories of work, including earthworks, construction of the railway platform, crossing structures, drainage, fencing, and the restoration of various utility networks.
The contractual timeline stipulates a completion period of 33 months.
The site will involve substantial volumes of earthmoving, with approximately 6.83 million cubic meters of excavated earth and 4.55 million cubic meters of backfill.
The project also includes several major engineering works, such as six railway bridges totaling 1.384 kilometers, ten road bridges, six culverts, and eighteen box culverts.
CR20 Increases Purchases from China
The two contracts announced at the end of August are part of a series of procurement procedures undertaken by CR20 since the beginning of the year for the Moroccan project.
The Chinese group has notably initiated consultations for mechanical parts, earthmoving equipment, metal formwork, and engine-transmission sets. Maritime transport operations to Morocco have also been planned as part of this supply chain.
This organization illustrates the gradual establishment of a logistics chain directly linking Chinese suppliers to the LGV project in Morocco.
Dedicated Logistics for Lot 5
CR20 had also launched specific consultations to ensure the transport of machines and steel molds intended for lot 5.
The procurement processes for the rebar bender and the stone screener were initiated respectively in April and March 2026. The announcement of the results at the end of August thus concludes this supply phase, prior to the delivery and allocation of the equipment to the construction site.
Although the amounts of the two contracts remain relatively modest, they illustrate the tangible progress of the material preparation for the stretch.
A Construction Project at the Heart of the Extension to Marrakech
Active in the construction of railways, bridges, tunnels, and major earthworks, CR20 incorporates lot 5 of the Kénitra-Marrakech LGV into its international construction operations.
Part of the equipment and components necessary for the project are purchased directly in China before being transported to Morocco.
With its 35.4 kilometers, significant earthmoving volumes, and numerous engineering works, lot 5 thus represents one of the key civil engineering segments of the high-speed rail extension to Marrakech.
The increase in purchases and logistical operations primarily confirms the gradual ramp-up of the construction site, as Morocco continues expanding its high-speed rail network in anticipation of upcoming major international events.
