Government has drawn-down $45,9 million, representing 30 percent of the total project cost for upgrading and modernisation of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
The RGM International Airport modernisation will cost $153 million, which is being provided as a concessional loan facility by the China Eximbank.
Works began in earnest last August.
China Jiangsu International, the firm which won the bid to refresh the aesthetics of RGM International Airport, has already moved on site to undertake the mammoth project.
Last week, various pieces of raw materials for use in the expansion project were delivered, paving the way for accelerating the upgrade.
Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) director of airports Mr Tawanda Gusha, told The Herald Business recently that 30 percent of the total project cost has since been drawn-down.
“In terms of the upgrade and modernisation of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, we have so far drawn-down 30 percent of the total project cost. It was drawn-down sometime in mid-December (last year) and it is being used for site mobilisation as well as procurement of equipment,” said Mr Gusha.
He explained that they are currently “at project start-up” where they are “doing excavations, digging foundations for the terminal building (to) start works on the runway”.
Added Mr Gusha: “The next stage will be light works to finish off runway rehabilitation”.
Works started by levelling the VVIP side, where two aero bridges will be erected, and will then move to cover rest of the airport to ensure flights are not affected.
Upon completion, the RGM International Airport is expected to gain a competitive edge over its neighbours who are continuously upgrading their main gateways.
