Bougainville's Aropa Airport to get major upgrade
· RNZAropa Airport, the main air link into central Bougainville, is to undergo a significant upgrade.
This follows a memorandum of agreement between the government of the autonomous Papua New Guinea region and the National Airports Corporation.
The agreement allows for runway strengthening, improved approach lighting, a new terminal building and associated works.
The work will get underway early next year and the Bougainville chief secretary, Kearnneth Nanei, said it highlights the strategic importance of Aropa Airport.
He calls it a crucial step in Bougainville's development, enhancing connectivity with wider Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, and also driving economic opportunities, contributing to independence readiness.
The main scope of the project includes:
- Aircraft pavement repair and strengthening;
- Bituminous chip seal resurfacing;
- Construction of new terminal building and car parking facilities;
- Installation of new precision approach path indicator (PAPI);
- Provision of new airport power and water supply, sewerage system including land airside electrical systems and other associated works
The Autonomous Bougainville Government said these improvements will help position Bougainville as a key aviation hub in the Pacific, paving the way for economic growth and increased tourism.