KINSHASA, (Reuters) – Chinese companies have signed an  amended $6 billion infrastructure and loan deal with Democratic  Republic of Congo, China’s ambassador said yesterday, a step  seen clearing the way for debt relief for the African nation.  

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had feared the  contract, which uses Congo’s mineral reserves as a guarantee for  infrastructure projects, could plunge Congo deeper into debt.  

The size of the deal was cut in August to $6 billion from an  original plan of $9 billion, and Congolese government guarantees  connected with the mining aspect of the agreement were taken off  the table.

The IMF had delayed forgiveness of most of the $10  billion Congo owes pending a revision of the deal.