Botswana

 

FRANCISTOWN: The three packages that the reconstruction of the Francistown Airport has been divided into are such that they will be completed at the same time,

The expansion and reconstruction of the Francistown Airport began in August last year and is scheduled for completion in July next year. Speaking to journalists on a tour of the project arranged by the Office of the President last week, Rawat said package three is currently the most advanced.

"The stage, which consists of all buildings and the structural work, is complete 80 percent," he said.

Package three will cost P160 million is being built by Zhongan Engineering. Work on this particular package commenced on November 3 last year and is scheduled for completion by May 2, 2010.

Though the project is behind schedule by seven weeks, Rawat says they are confident the Francistown Airport will be completed before 2010 FIFA World Cup gets underway in South Africa so that teams and tourists who want to come to Botswana will be catered for. "The delay was due to a huge amount of rocks we encountered during excavation and to inclement weather," he adds.

The P224. 67 million first package, which consists of a three-kilometre runway, taxiway and the apron, was awarded last May and progress was at 34 percent at the end of June. This part of the project is behind schedule by eight weeks.

Regarding the second package, which is the airfield, ground lighting is still at tendering stage. "The tender will be awarded within two months," says Rawat.

Meanwhile, the newly formed Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana is currently also expanding the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SKIA), as well as the Maun and Kasane airports.

SKIA is due for completion by the second quarter of next year. It includes  construction of a new terminal building, extension of the runway from the present 3000 metres to 4000 metres and provision of a full length parallel taxiway with a runway edge lighting taxiway. The Maun Airport is undergoing construction of a 3700-metre long runway, convertion of the existing runway to a full length parallel taxiway, extension and strengthening of the apron, construction of a new terminal building, a new air traffic control tower, and converting the existing terminal building to cater for a VIP room and staff houses.

The Kasane Airport runway is being extended to 3000 metres, which includes its widening and strengthening, extension of the apron and strengthening and improving of the terminal building and air traffic control tower.

Source: Mmegi



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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