A Chinese firm engaged in the construction of a US$522 million Zambia’s international airport on Copperbelt has pledged to complete construction of the project on time.
AVIC International Engineering Corporation contractor behind the project assured the government Tuesday that work on the project will be completed as schedule.
Speaking on Tuesday when Copperbelt Minister Bowman Lusambo visited the construction site of the international airport on Copperbelt, AVIC senior consultant Lei Yingqi said civil and foundation works will be completed before works on the runway start.
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“We are working hard to remove the 46 families who have occupied the runway, otherwise our works will be seriously affected,” he said.
He said the company has imported more earthmoving equipment to ensure speedy execution of the project.
And Mr Lusambo said Government is eager to see a greenfield project constructed and assured families that have been relocated from the construction site that they will soon be compensated as the provincial administration has received K7 million for the exercise.
He urged the contractor, which has 70 Chinese employees and 270 local people, to consider employing local experts like engineers.
Mr Lusambo said he is satisfied with the pace of work and is optimistic the works would be completed within the three-year contractual period.
Mr Lusambo also toured Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport and the Misaka area where affected families are being relocated.