Somaliland: Vice-President Saylici Lays Foundation for Egal International Airport Second Phase Expansion
By: Abdirisak Itaqile
Hargeisa, 17 Feb 2014 (SDN) –Somaliland’s Vice-President Abdirahman Abdilahi Ismail saylici has on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the construction of the remaining 1 KM of the runway and build electrical system that will support for day and night operations of the Airport.
Speaking during the stone laying ceremony Vice-President Saylici thanked the Kuwaiti government and expressed his appreciation on behalf of the people of Somaliland for their generous donation.
After the groundbreaking the VP was also given an in depth tour of the ongoing construction work which includes the 1.2 km of runway extension, this second phase was made possible by the fulfillment on our after the donor country was satisfied by the work on the previous project hence the recent signing of the new agreement between Hon Mahmoud Abdi Hashi and Kuwaiti official in Kuwait which secured additional $5 Million to the project previous $10 Million used in the upgrading of facilities in the two major airports and the latest grant will be utilized for the construction 1.2 km of runway extension to the recently renovated 2,466M runaway , installation of lighting system for night landings as well a 70 KM security perimeter fence and aircraft hangars at the Egal international airport.
The existing length of the apron at the Egal international airport which is 1410M will be extended 100 x 50 meters in order to accommodate several aircrafts. For the safety and security of the passengers the Airport terminals and the Airport property the apron area will be expanded so the aircrafts can park away from the terminal and maneuver easily around the apron without damage to terminal property or the aircraft itself.
The Minister of Aviation also added that the duration of the Kuwait funded projects expected to last for six month and it will officially commence on the 1st of March till August 2014 The Project will be jointly monitored by the National Tender Board, Ministry of Civil Aviation and representatives of the Kuwait Fund but all funds relating to the project shall be solely administered by representatives of the Kuwaiti fund as I heard said before we had agreed to this term with Kuwait because we are committed to be transparency with all donor funds, rather than say gives us the money, we tell them help us build infrastructure”. When the project is completed Kuwaiti Fund will turn the complete project back to Somaliland government.
Kuwait government will fund this project approximately with five million dollars, with the understanding that they will manage the allocation of the funds.
In 2012, the airport’s routes were temporarily suspended as its runway underwent major renovations, funded by the Somaliland authorities, Kuwait Fund and USAID. The facility was later reopened on August 17, 2013, with enlarged arrival and departure terminals, as well as five new wind turbines. An installed wind data monitoring station will also assist in powering the airport.
SDN Hargeisa