Pandemic affects airport upgrading

THE Nadzab Airport redevelopment project in Morobe due to be completed next year may be delayed due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, Civil Aviation Minister Sekie Agisa says.
Agisa, who visited the project site last week, said the redevelopment of the country’s second largest urban centre was crucial to the province, region and country.
“It’s one of the national government’s major project under Jica (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and should be completed in the end of 2022 but because of the Covid-19, the project time might be extend,” he said.
“That depends on the contractors and how they are working.
“Looking at the work done, I believe the contractors are doing their very best in terms of quality with the materials they are using and how they are building it.
“Even if there is a lockdown, the contractors will still be working and that drives a message to us that they are committed to the project.”
Agisa said the contractors would follow all Covid-19 safety and health measures while working.
Agisa said he was pleased to see the majority of workers were locals with a few expatriates in supervisory roles.