More equipment for airport expansion

THE Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ) says it will take delivery of equipment to complete expansion works at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.

The expansion is part of a broad plan that has seen government investing in airport infrastructure, pouring US$153 million into the flagship airport.

The total package for the airport revamp programme is estimated to be US$330 million.

ACZ chief executive officer, Tawanda Gusha told NewsDay Business that the consignments were bought from China and Singapore.

“We are expecting equipment such as the baggage handling and security systems to arrive in January and February, respectively this equipment is coming from China and Singapore and as soon as it arrives then we will know the date when the whole process will be completed,” he said.

“Currently we are installing surveillance systems at the airport and everything is moving according to plan.”

At completion of the project, passenger handling capacity is expected to increase from the current 2,5 million per annum to six million, and will avail an opportunity to attract more airlines.

ACZ has about 10 airports under its stewardship.

The busiest ones are the Robert Mugabe International Airport in Harare, Victoria Falls International Airport and Joshua Nqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo.

At the completion of expansion projects, Zimbabwe’s airports will have the capacity to handle a combined 9,2 million passengers annually, from the current 5,5 million.

Gusha recently said the firm would soon go to tender for solar power projects.

“We will soon go to tender for airport solar farms. We want to find partners, who will be investing in solar projects within airports to reduce our electricity bills,” he told The Standard last week.

Apart from reducing electricity bills, solar power facilities will help Zimbabwe’s airports ameliorate the crisis presented by rolling blackouts.-newsday