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During our trip to the north-east of Laos in March this year we were driving past the new Xam Neua airport. People were working on it at that time but work has now stopped as the company who is paying for the construction of the airport has run into financial problems. Here is a short video (copyright Ian Bronte gatenby) short during our drive-by as well as an extract of the article in the Vientiane Times of today.
Huaphan airport delays leave steel frames rusting
Some steel structures of the unfinished buildings at Nongkhang Airport which is under construction in Huaphan province are now noticeably rusty after construction works were suspended almost six months ago. Indeed the new air strip is scheduled to be completed in December this year but the construction company responsible for the works reportedly has financial problems and has written to notify authorities that works have been suspended.
Deputy Director of the provincial Public Works Transport Department, Mr Onphan Thongthida told Vientiane Times this week that it's concerned that some of the structures which remain unfinished may corrode or deteriorate. We do not yet know when the construction of the landing field will be resumed, he said. However, construction of the airport may be continued with a new company if the old construction company cannot continue the works, he said. Currently it has yet to find a new company to continue construction of the airfield but is looking to identify contractors capable of completing the works.
Construction of the Nongkhang Airport in Xamneua district, Huaphan province was initially undertaken by Hoang Anh Gia Lai Joint Stock Company (HAGL), and is currently around 30 percent complete. The rainy season last year also put the project behind schedule when workers were forced to down tools for almost two months due to heavy downpours. At that time, the construction company agreed to complete the project by June 2016, saying another six months was needed to finish the work but it was subsequently not completed.
The project was given the green light in June 2013 when the government, represented by the Department of Civil Aviation, signed a contract with the Vietnamese investors, Hoang AnhGia Lai, worth more than US$74 million. When complete, the airport will be able to accommodate aircraft with 70 to 100 seats, such as the ATR72.
Source: Vientiane Times
Huaphan airport delays leave steel frames rusting
Some steel structures of the unfinished buildings at Nongkhang Airport which is under construction in Huaphan province are now noticeably rusty after construction works were suspended almost six months ago. Indeed the new air strip is scheduled to be completed in December this year but the construction company responsible for the works reportedly has financial problems and has written to notify authorities that works have been suspended.
Deputy Director of the provincial Public Works Transport Department, Mr Onphan Thongthida told Vientiane Times this week that it's concerned that some of the structures which remain unfinished may corrode or deteriorate. We do not yet know when the construction of the landing field will be resumed, he said. However, construction of the airport may be continued with a new company if the old construction company cannot continue the works, he said. Currently it has yet to find a new company to continue construction of the airfield but is looking to identify contractors capable of completing the works.
Construction of the Nongkhang Airport in Xamneua district, Huaphan province was initially undertaken by Hoang Anh Gia Lai Joint Stock Company (HAGL), and is currently around 30 percent complete. The rainy season last year also put the project behind schedule when workers were forced to down tools for almost two months due to heavy downpours. At that time, the construction company agreed to complete the project by June 2016, saying another six months was needed to finish the work but it was subsequently not completed.
The project was given the green light in June 2013 when the government, represented by the Department of Civil Aviation, signed a contract with the Vietnamese investors, Hoang AnhGia Lai, worth more than US$74 million. When complete, the airport will be able to accommodate aircraft with 70 to 100 seats, such as the ATR72.
Source: Vientiane Times
