By Jane Joshua in Port Vila
Prime Minister Charlot Salwai has his eyes set on urgent repairs for Vanuatu’s international airport at Bauerfield and wants to see the runway fixed by April, as mandated by the incoming cabinet in an emergency meeting yesterday.
The new coalition government only took office this week after the snap general election last month.
New Zealand contractor Fulton Hogan has been awarded the Bauerfield contract for emergency airport repairs.
The contractor’s letter for award of contract was issued yesterday afternoon by the Director-General of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities following the Vanuatu Project Management Unit steering committee’s consideration of evaluation reports.
Due to the emergency situation at Bauerfield, an emergency procurement process as provided under World Bank procurement guide was executed last Wednesday, with the evaluation being completed this week.
The value of the emergency repair work is approximately 139 million vatu (US$1.24 million).
Fulton Hogan are now expected to have the contract signed in the coming days for immediate mobilisation of machinery and experts.
56-day job
It is envisaged that the duration of works contract will be completed within 56 days after the signing of the contract.
This means mobilisation of equipment and materials will be done by March 15, when works are expected to start.
According to the project timeline, the government expects the emergency repairs to be completed by the April 6.
In addition, under the same timeline, the shipment of materials, including asphalt to repair the runway is expected in the coming weeks.
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