Angolan airport upgrade underway

LUENA airport in Angola is no longer receiving large-sized aircraft while reconstruction work is happening on its runway.  For the time being only loads of less than 20 tonnes are permitted until work is complete in April.

The Chinese company Sinohydro Corporation won the contract to expand the runway to 3,350 metres long and 45 metres wide, from its current 2,400 and 30 metres.

Part of the deal between the Angolan and Chinese governments to allow China access to Angola’s rich mineral and off-shore oil resources was widespread infrastructural investment. Although the original agreement of US$2 billion dollars in the oil industry alone fell through China is still pumping a lot of money into the country, with most of the contracts being given to Chinese companies.