Mota-Engil Invests in Liebherr Excavators for Kano-Maradi Railway Project

In a landmark deal valued at approximately USD 1.8 billion, Mota-Engil has embarked on constructing the Kano-Maradi railway line, its largest project to date. This 284-kilometer railway will link the Nigerian city of Kano with Maradi in southern Niger, fostering improved cross-border transport and economic development in the region.

To support this major infrastructure initiative, Mota-Engil has invested in ten A 922 Rail Litronic excavators from Liebherr, a choice driven by positive past experiences with these machines in Iberian Peninsula projects. The A 922 Rail Litronic, designed for both road and rail operations, is equipped with a rail guide system that enables it to transition between road and rail travel seamlessly. This design allows it to perform a variety of track-building tasks, including grading, laying rails, sleepers, ballast, and points. After construction, these machines will continue to be used for track maintenance.

The A 922 Rail Litronic is powered by a 120 kW / 163 hp engine, complemented by a variable-displacement hydraulic system for efficient, smooth operations. The excavators in this project come with a full suite of Liebherr attachments, including swivelling ditch-cleaning buckets, clamshell buckets, and backhoe buckets. Each machine is also fitted with Liebherr’s Solidlink quick-coupling system, allowing rapid attachment changes to enhance flexibility and efficiency on-site.