Chitotela Reveals Progress on New KK International Airport
Ministerial statement on the progress that has been achieved in the construction of the Kenneth Kaunda and Copperbelt international airports
Delivered by
Honourable Ronald k. Chitotela, MP, minister of housing and infrastructure development
Mr. Speaker
Firstly, I wish to express my gratitude to you for granting me this opportunity to inform the house and the nation, on the progress that has been achieved in the upgrading and modernisation of the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, and the construction of the Greenfield and Modern International Airport in Ndola.
Mr. Speaker
As government, we have in place a well known and articulated aspiration to transform Zambia into a country with the state of the art aviation infrastructure. This aspiration and all the others that form part of our development agenda, have a firm foundation in the patriotic front’s 2016 to 2021 vision to make Zambia more industrious, prosperous, peaceful, stable, united, democratic, and inclusive society, under the motto of one Zambia, one nation.
I am pleased to note that during the recent official opening of this session on 14th September, his Excellency, Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, president of the republic of Zambia informed the house and indeed the nation on the achievements that our government has made towards the realisation of the patriotic front vision.
May our dear god continue giving his excellency, our republican and party president great strength and wisdom to enable us continue to steer Zambia in the direction that will result in more positive economic gains in the lives of the Zambian people.
Mr. Speaker
I therefore stand before the house to provide more details to one of the many issues that his Excellency the president of the republic of Zambia addressed. This issue relates to government’s aim of making Zambia an industrious country.
In the infrastructure sector, we are supporting the government policy of industrialising the Zambian economy through provision of high quality standard aviation infrastructure. This is because aviation infrastructure such as airports play a vital role in improving transportation services to businesses and individuals.
As you may be aware of this fact, government embarked on a number of flagship aviation infrastructure projects. Among these are the new terminal and auxiliary facilities at Kenneth Kaunda international airport and the new Copperbelt international airport.
Mr. Speaker
I now wish to speak to the accumulative progress that has been achieved under each of the two international airports.
- The Kenneth Kaunda international airport
After the signing of the contract for the design and construction of the airport infrastructure, construction works commenced on 21st April 2015, and is expected to be completed on 20th October 2019 at a total cost of 360 million united states dollars.
Since implementation started, notable deliverables have been registered with the overall progress currently standing at 74%. The progress under each of the specific facilities is as follows:
(I) the passenger terminal building at 80%;
(ii) the presidential pavilion at 81%;
(iii) the control tower (atc building) at 86%;
(iv) the fire and rescue station is 100% completed;
(v) the viaduct is 100% completed;
(vi) the taxiway extension is at 88%;
(vii) the warehousing facilities are at 80%;
(viii) the warehousing facilities apron is at 84%
(ix) the hotel is at 73%;
(x) the airport shopping mall is at 70%;
(xiii) the air traffic control tower is at 85%;
(xiv) the airport office park is at 65%;
(xvi) the apron for presidential pavilion is 100% complete;
(xvii) construction of the water tank and pump house is 100% complete; and
(xviii) the terminal apron is at 72%.
Further, the rehabilitation and conversion of the existing terminal to domestic terminal is yet to commence.
Mr. Speaker, I now turn to the Copperbelt international airport
I wish to inform the house that the contractor for the Copperbelt international airport is Avic international holding corporation. The contract sum is us$ 379, 201, 694 with contract period of 36 months. However, a few local contractors have been sub-contracted.
Regarding the scope of works, it ncludes the design and construction of the following facilities:
(I) a passenger terminal building;
(ii) a hotel;
(iii) a business complex;
(iv) a police station;
(v) a special garage;
(vi) an aircraft hangar;
(vii) a rescue and fire station;
(viii) a central power station;
(ix) a garbage incineration station;
(x) a sewerage station;
(xi) a refrigeration station;
(xii) a fuel filling station;
(xiii) a cargo terminal;
(xiv) water and sanitation facilities;
(xv) an air traffic control building;
(xvi) an isolation cargo;
(xvii) a security check room; and
(xviii) runway and associated taxi ways and apron.
Mr. Speaker
With regard to the design, detailed design and working drawings for the terminal building, air traffic control building, business complex, via duct, and the runway with its associated taxi ways and apron have been fully completed and approved.
The contractor is expected to complete the detailed design for the rest of the facilities by the end of October 2018.
Mr. Speaker
The project commenced on 16th, 2017 and is expected to be completed in October, 2020. Regarding payments, the total amount certified to date is us$ 130, 835,436.10 and amount paid to date amounts to us$ 119, 160,448.10, leaving an outstanding balance of us$ 11,674,988.10.
In terms of construction, the progress achieved under the facilities is as follows:
(I) the runway construction has reached 70% completion. The major works remaining is the asphalt concrete and the cement concrete on the 2 turning pads;
(ii) the works on the apron are at 15%;
(iii) the foundation and ground floor concrete and first floor slab for the air traffic control building has been completed. In addition, the column works on the first floor have commenced;
(iv) the foundation excavations for the terminal building have been completed and the pad foundation casted construction has commenced. In addition, 30% of column works for the terminal build have been completed;
(v) the piling for the via duct columns has progressed with 30 out of 44 being casted; and
(vi) the foundation excavations and concrete footing for the airfield ground lighting substation have been completed.
Mr. Speaker
The progress on works has generally been satisfactory and on schedule with the overall progress for all the facilities standing at 20%. We shall continue to constantly monitor and supervise the works to ensure that construction of the two airports is on track.
Mr. Speaker
The labour turnover at the construction site is 924 workers segregated as follows: 248 Chinese nationals and 676 Zambian nationals. Therefore, in addition to the direct and indirect jobs to be created across the supply chain, the following are the anticipated benefits that will accrue to our economy once construction is completed:
(I) increased revenue and commercial viability of the Zambia airports corporation ltd with brighter prospects for growth;
(ii) contribution to human resource capacity development through learning by participation of the many of our young Zambians involved in the construction process;
(iii) raising the profile of our aviation sector and airport standards;
(iv) promoting Zambia as a tourist destination and the growth of local tourism enterprises through increased international and domestic tourist arrivals; and
(v) contribution to the viability and prospects of the soon to be introduced national airline.
I also wish to note that government efforts are not only focussed on the two international airports which are a subject of my statement. In this regard, government has plans to develop and upgrade some of the existing provincial airports and aerodromes so as to improve the facilities and service delivery.
This is because most of the facilities require upgrading and modernisation in order to improve their contribution to the aviation, industrial and tourism sectors among others.
Mr. Speaker
I, therefore, wish to re-affirm that the government under the leadership of his Excellency, Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, president of the republic of Zambia continues to be committed to improve the aviation infrastructure.
This is part of the efforts to improve the transport system in line with the seventh national development plan and the vision 2030.
We have the desire and will to improve the transport system and consequentially the cost of doing business, industrialisation and the welfare of our people.
Mr. Speaker
As I conclude, I want to indicate that government will continue with it’s proactive stance on the development of aviation infrastructure in the country. Further, government through my ministry will ensure that all current works on construction of our airports are completed and developed to match international standards.
Mr. Speaker, I thank you.