THE Namibia Airports Company admitted this week that their ongoing N$100 million improvement of the Walvis Bay International Airport is being done without the municipality’s approval.
Although the airport terminal that is expected to open for business in about three weeks has been ongoing since 2008, the plans were only submittted recently.
These plans are necessary for the municipality to issue a completion certificate, which is crucial for businesses to operate in the terminal as well as crucial for the connection of key services such as water, electricity and telephones.
The N$202 million expansion includes a runway, an apron, and a terminal, while a weather-resistant fence of about N$50 million will be erected.
More features include state-of-the-art X-ray scanners and metal detectors. A N$9 million fire station was built in 2008.
The airport is considered a key component in Walvis Bay’s aim to becoming a logistics hub in the SADC region, and will be complemented by the new SADC Gateway Port under construction and the upgrade of the Trans-Kalahari Corridor from Walvis Bay to the rest of the region.
Larger aeroplanes such as Boeing 747s and even the A380 Airbus can be accommodated at the airport, and cargo and passenger numbers are expected to increase manifold.
The previous terminal, which was built about 30 years ago, has become too small to handle an ever-increasing flow of passengers.
It had the capacity to deal with about 50 people per peak hour, whereas the new terminal would handle up to 250 people per peak hour.
Walvis Bay municipality customer services manager Kevin Adams said they realised that there were no building plans submitted when the airports company wanted to apply for a trade licence at the municipality.
“The plans have been received, and the municipality is in contact with the architects to resolve the issue. It is not impossible [for plans to be approved after the completion of a project]. However, this is not recommended as the process can be tedious and complex,” stated Adams.
If defects are detected, though, they will need to be rectified because building plans must comply with building regulations – especially for such large projects.
Airports company spokesperson Mia Davids said they only became aware of the matter a month ago largely because of management changes over the years since the terminal project was started.
“The plans were submitted, and they will be approved in approximately two or three weeks. This will not affect the project at all as it is a procedure that has to be followed,” Davids said.
She also said when the project started, it was on state land outside the Wavis Bay municipal area and there was no need to submit plans.
Davids further said the issue of complying with international requirements in the absence of building plans did not apply when the airport was on state land.Adams said there is an agreement between municipalities and the state agencies that they should submit building plans.
The general manager of New Era Investments, Eric Xu, merely said they were not aware nor responsible for the matter, and referred all questions to their client, the NAC.
In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.
The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
