Norsup Airport upgrade work stops amid payment delays

By Andrew Curran.

Work to upgrade Vanuatu’s Norsup Airport (NUS) has stopped amid payment delays, according to a report in Vanuatu’s Daily Post.

The Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) was awarded the VUV3 billion (USD25.4 million) contract to upgrade the airport on Malakula Island in mid-2022.

When complete, the upgraded airport will be able to handle aircraft as large as ATR72s after the current 950-metre runway is extended to 1,615 metres.

However, Malakula-based politician Anatole Hymak has told Vanuatu’s parliament that work at the airport ceased several months ago.

Minister of Infrastructure and Public Utilities Xavier Emanuel Harry said CCECC would complete the project but acknowledged that “the government has been slow with payments”.

However, he said the government was catching up on outstanding payments and that CCECC was expected to move its asphalt plant to Malakula soon.

“We’ve managed to catch up with the advancement of work,” Harry said.

“The next step we are waiting for is moving the asphalt plant from Santo to Malakula. Once it is installed, sealing of the airport runway, apron, and taxiway will start in June if there are no disruptions to the plan.”

Chinese contractor to overhaul dilapidated airport

In addition to a new runway, taxiway, and apron, the upgrade includes new airport and road drainage systems, a new passenger terminal, navigation aids, meteorological facilities, cargo facilities, rescue and firefighting facilities, fuel infrastructure, and car parks.

The current Norsup Airport has been described as “dilapidated”.

Air Vanuatu flies to Norsup six days per week from Port Vila (VLI) and twice weekly from Luganville (SON) using DHC-6-300 Twin Otters.

The Norsup Airport upgrade forms part of a broader government project to upgrade four island airports around Vanuatu and bring them into line with Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu and International Civil Aviation Organization standards.

The Australian Government and the World Bank are helping fund the programme.

The Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation has been actively involved in Vanuatu’s aviation infrastructure upgrades for around a decade. Among the projects awarded to the company and its joint venture partners was a USD47 million contract to rehabilitate the main runway, aprons, and related infrastructure at Port Vila’s Bauerfield International Airport, along with a USD11.4 million contract to undertake structural overlays, runway widening, and extension works at Tanna (TAH) and Luganville/Espiritu Santo.

Photo: Asian Development Bank.
Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com