11.04.2012
Minsk airport reconstruction without Chinese investments
MINSK, 11 April (BelTA) – Belarus has abandoned plans to cooperate with China to reconstruct the National Airport Minsk. Instead an alternative concept to accomplish the projects has been put together, said Vladimir Kostin, Deputy Director of the Aviation Department of the Belarusian Transport and Communications Ministry.
Earlier Belarus had plans to recruit China’s aid to accomplish investment projects that envisage building a second runway and a new passenger terminal. “However, we have ceased cooperation with the Chinese side for now due to circumstances outside of influence of the Belarusian side,” said Vladimir Kostin.
In turn, Director General of the National Airport Minsk Dmitry Melikyan explained that despite the price specified by the general contract the Chinese side set the price at virtually twice as high as the planned one. After multiple negotiations at various levels the Chinese side refused to fulfill the general contract and contacted the government with a proposal to sign a new contract for the delivery of equipment only.
Then the Belarusian side decided to work out an alternative concept for remodeling the existing airport and the infrastructure, for expanding the apron, building additional parking lots, and improving the aviation security system in view of the forthcoming world ice hockey championship in 2014. About $81 million will be required to implement the concept. Belarusian designers have already started working on the second runway that is scheduled to open in 2017.
Earlier Belarus had plans to recruit China’s aid to accomplish investment projects that envisage building a second runway and a new passenger terminal. “However, we have ceased cooperation with the Chinese side for now due to circumstances outside of influence of the Belarusian side,” said Vladimir Kostin.
In turn, Director General of the National Airport Minsk Dmitry Melikyan explained that despite the price specified by the general contract the Chinese side set the price at virtually twice as high as the planned one. After multiple negotiations at various levels the Chinese side refused to fulfill the general contract and contacted the government with a proposal to sign a new contract for the delivery of equipment only.
Then the Belarusian side decided to work out an alternative concept for remodeling the existing airport and the infrastructure, for expanding the apron, building additional parking lots, and improving the aviation security system in view of the forthcoming world ice hockey championship in 2014. About $81 million will be required to implement the concept. Belarusian designers have already started working on the second runway that is scheduled to open in 2017.