Work on transforming the military air base at Nacala, in northern Mozambique, into a civilian international airport should begin in the next few days, according to Luis Manuel, the production manager of the Brazilian company Odebrecht.According to the independent paper “O Pais”, work should start at the end of the current month or the beginning of May.This information was presented during a visit to the site by Deputy Transport Minister Manuela Ribeiro. She was on a fact finding mission to Nacala to ascertain the reasons for the lack of activity on the ground.It is already about a year since the formal laying of the first stone at the site, but there is still no visible activity.Odebrecht’s production manager showed the deputy minister the preparations the company has made for the work, such as the opening of an administrative office, which is operating out of a tourist establishment, and the creation of a work yard close to the air base.Luis Manuel said that the start of engineering work had been set for June, but it was decided to begin at the end of this month or in early May, with the transformation of the airport due to be completed by January 2013.Manuel declined to comment on reports that the delay in starting the work was caused by funds not being released by the Brazilian bank which has guaranteed the financing of the contract.The Mozambican government has already provided 40 million US dollars, with the total cost estimated at 120 million dollars.The work consists of the construction of passenger and cargo terminals, a new control tower, repaving the runway, and other infrastructure.The airport will have the capacity to handle between 500,000 and 600,000 passengers per year, and receive class D aircraft, such as Boeing 757s and 767s.
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