Africa-Press – Lesotho. Principal Secretary for Public Works under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport Mr. Mothabathe Hlalele says after the Lesotho High Lands Water Project (LHWP), the project of Moshoeshoe I international Airport rehabilitation is the next big thing for Lesotho’s economic landscape.
He said this at the opening of a two day workshop on the Economic Rate Return (ERR) review for rehabilitation of Moshoeshoe I International Airport on Thursday.
According to Hlalele, the airport rehabilitation project has been in subject for a long time now. In the first place, he said the government received funding from abroad.
This he said was to engage a consultant to conduct a feasibility study on how best the project could be carried out so that the airport impacts positively on the lives of Basotho.
Upon completion of the study, he said a report compilation was submitted to the donors who turned the funding proposal down citing that the project lacked ERR, an interest rate at which the cost and benefits of a project, discounted over its life, are equal.
Hlalele said the government has also reengaged the same consultant to conduct additional feasibility study that will ‘hopefully’ meeting the donors’ requirements.
He further said study is almost done, but the consultant demanded the engagement of stakeholders so they could contribute to the final report, hence Thursday’s workshop. Speaking of the project economic capacity, he dubbed the project ‘the next big thing after LHWP’ in terms of economy enhancement potential.
Meanwhile, Moshoeshoe I international Airport General Manager Department of Civil Aviation Mr Letsoaka Sekonyela who was presenting on the components of the project revealed that, among other areas, there is going to be a rehabilitation of the existing runaway, associating works and the extension of the main runaway by 1 000 meters to accommodate larger aircrafts (both pax and cargo).
As for the landside, he said the passenger terminal is going to be improved and expanded. All this alongside a new luxury lounge with all accessories yet to be constructed.
