Namibia Airports Company (NAC) Chief Executive Officer, Bisey /Uirab says the company plans to invest over N$ 1.3 Billion in infrastructure development across all eight airports in the country within the next five years aimed at improving compliance efficiency and revenue generation.
/Uirab revealed this he as addressed stakeholders at the site visit to the Hosea Kutako International Airport Expansion Project on 10 February 2021. The CEO says the company is currently seeking to secure a further N$143 million in funds for capital expenditure projects planned within the 2020/21 and 2021/22 financial years.
Meanwhile, other lined up projects planned within the following financial year include: HKIA Apron Expansion (N$70 million), HKIA CUTE System (N$16 million), Ondangwa Apron Rehabilitation (N$16 million), Katima Mulilo Runway Holding Action (N$32 million, Walvis Bay Airside Boundary Wall (N$10 million), Walvis Bay Electronic Equipment (N$4 million) and HKIA road upgrade (N$4 million).
/Uirab states that the NAC is doing all this to contribute to the achievement of Namibia’s developmental Goal of Vision 2030 by growing the aviation sector such that air travel becomes the norm for Namibian citizens.
He adds that the company will play a central role in coordinating the activities of private and public sector players including GRN, Airlines, tourism service providers, private airlines, financial services providers etc.
Immediate interventions include N$250 million for the HKIA terminal congestion alleviation and N$20 million for the Eros runway holding action. These are meant to address immediate safety and security concerns at the two airports as well as the congestion situation particularly at HKIA, /Uirab states.
Despite COVID-19 challenges, over N$174 million has been invested in the Eros and HKIA projects within the 2019/20 and 2020/21 financial year, N$154 million of which was spent on HKIA and N$20 million on Eros.