The Angolan government鈥檚 aim is for the new airport to become the aviation hub of western Africa. It will have capacity to accommodate 15 million passengers and 50,000 tonnes of cargo per year.
The Angolan Ministry of Transportation signed a design and build turnkey contract for US$3.8bn (拢2.6bn) with the Chinese contractor CIF for the new airport. The airport will feature two runways, one 4.2km long (for the A380 airbus) and one of 3.8km. The terminal has a gross floor area of 170,000m2, and will have three piers with ten gates per pier. The project also includes the construction of a rail link to the capital, to the province of Luanda, and possibly to the neighbouring province of Malanje.
The construction works have already begun on site and the Ministry of Transportation has since concluded that appointing an international project management company to manage and supervise the remaining construction works is required to ensure the delivery of this airport meets international aviation standards. The project is due to complete and open in 2017.
Mace project director Carlos Cruz said: 鈥淥ur team in Angola is proud to be part of what will be the most important construction project in the country for the next couple of years. It is an infrastructure of decisive importance for the economic growth of the country and no doubt it will put Luanda on the international aviation map.鈥�
Regional director for sub-Saharan Africa, Nick Demain, added: 鈥淎s our first major aviation project in sub-Saharan Africa, this is an exciting project for the team and a great win given the local challenges. It also further strengthens our portfolio for the region as we continue to receive infrastructure and transport-related enquiries.鈥�
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