More on the US$60 mln airport planned for Xai-Xai, Gaza – AIM report

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

More on the US$60 mln airport planned for Xai-Xai, Gaza – AIM report

8:15 CAT | 21 Feb 2017

File photo / Minister Mesquita said that the Xai-Xai airport will facilitate the movement of people involved in the projects of building a new dam on the Limpopo river and exploiting titanium bearing heavy mineral sands in the Gaza district of Chibuto as well to boost local tourism

The Mozambican government estimates that it will cost 60 million US dollars to build a brand new airport to serve, Xai-Xai, capital of the southern province of Gaza.

Xai-Xai is the only provincial capital that has no airport. The projected site for the new airport is outside the city, in Chonguene district. According to a report in the Beira daily paper “Diario de Mocambique”, Transport Minister Carlos Mesquita on Friday visited the site, which covers an area of about 4,000 hectares.

Mesquita said that the viability study, including the environmental impact study, has already been undertaken. The government is now waiting for the ExIm Bank of China to disburse the money to start work on the airport.

“The Mozambican government has already undertaken all the steps inherent to the viability study”, he said. “All the households affected by the project will be resettled – but it is important to note that there are few people living in the area. What we do have is a large number of graves, and these must be removed to another place, in work which will involve the respective families and the local traditional authorities”.

Mesquita claimed that the airport “is a necessity and a dream for Gaza, and we hope that it will stimulate tourism in the province”.

There are plans to build a new dam on the Limpopo river, and to exploit titanium bearing heavy mineral sands in the Gaza district of Chibuto. “For these activities we need an airport to facilitate the movement of people involved in the projects”, said Mesquita. “Gaza has tourist potential in its beaches and parks, and these factors demand that the government provide highly competitive and attractive services in all areas, including aviation”.

Source: AIM