Somalia: Turkish firm wins Garowe airport tender, Conoco undergoes refurbishment

GAROWE, Somalia, September 15, 2015 (Garowe Online)- Puntland Civil Aviation and Airports Minister Hassan Haji Saed (Hasssan Adde) has officiated a renovation endeavor that will see the opening of Conoco airstrip on Tuesday, Garowe Online reports.

A Turkish contracting firm, SMK Group won a tender expected worth a total of $6 million in funding, and it will embark on the construction of paved runway, terminals, air traffic control tower, parking spots and lighting, fire and rescue stations inside the unpaved airport in October this year.

Located about 35km from the capital Garowe, Conoco will serve as detour during the construction period, Civil Aviation Minister, Hassan Adde told reporters.

“We have come here to refurbish Conoco airstrip, this airstrip will stay operational until [major renovation] of Garowe airport is completed. Engineers visited us to locate stores for [construction equipment and materials],” said Hassan Adde.

Nabeel Abdul-Raheem Consulting firm (NARCO) presented preliminary design reports and cost estimates to Puntland government in September 2014.

The Turkish contractor would airlift heavy construction machineries from neighboring Djibouti.

Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) granted USD 10 million in loan to Somalia in October 2013.

The remaining $4 million will go to construction of dormitories, lecture rooms, laboratories, sport fields, libraries and other structures at Maakhir University in northern Sanaag region.

United Nations agencies expressed concern about the security, saying their planes may not land at Conoco airstrip if plan goes ahead.

GAROWE ONLINE