China Railway 11th Bureau Group recently completed the main structure and interior and exterior finishing work on a new technical block and an air traffic control tower at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport in Guinea-Bissau. The works, whose formal handover is scheduled for 2027, form part of a project valued at 4.7 billion CFA francs, equivalent to approximately US$8.4 million.

The technical block will accommodate administrative, communications, weather-monitoring and equipment-maintenance services. The control tower will allow the runway and aircraft parking areas to be monitored. Automated air traffic control systems and navigation support equipment will be installed later by the entity responsible for the project.

A representative of the Chinese contractor said that the team had maintained safety and quality standards despite high temperatures, heavy rainfall and long lead times for materials.

Once operational, the new facilities are expected to strengthen aviation safety and flight co-ordination, as well as support the opening of new international routes. The project forms part of the modernisation programme for Guinea-Bissau’s only international airport.

(Source: Xinhua Português, 12 August)