Chinese company to foot $1.8B bill for additional CJIA works
– to be completed by December 31, 2021
China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) will be undertaking additional works on the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to the tune of $1.8 billion. However, the works will be done at no additional cost to Guyana.
The Ministry of Public Works made this announcement in a statement issued today. The release said the Ministry and CHEC entered into an agreement today. The deadline for works to completed is December 31, 2021.
The works entail:
- An extension of the Airport’s boarding corridor in order to accommodate two more passenger boarding bridges, providing the Airport with a total of six boarding bridges capable of servicing aircraft such as the Boeing 777, Dreamliner, the AirBus and similar trans-atlantic aircraft.
- The Terminal Building being extended to provide accommodation for additional commercial space such as food courts and duty-free shops. The extended building will feature a modern airport façade covering the full length of the Departure Terminal.
- China Harbour Engineering Company has further agreed to rectify and complete all outstanding remedial works within prescribed timelines.
President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali had said he was “disappointed” with the current scope of works at the airport. The President Ali shared these views with Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, His Excellency Cui Jianchun and representatives of CHEC after inspecting the project in September.
Government would only accept the works outlined in the original contract for the expansion of the airport the President said.
“Our intention is to get what was signed for. What was in the contract, that is what is our intention. The airport that was in the contract, that is the airport that has to be delivered to the Government and the People of Guyana,” the President had said. The airport expansion contract was signed in 2013 to the value of $30 billion (US$150 million). The deadline for the project was 2015 but the company was given an extension to complete the project, which expired in 2018. The project remains incomplete in 2020 even after an additional extension was granted.