By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
THE construction of the proposed Kalumbila Airport by Kalumbila Minerals Limited (KML) in North-Western Province is likely to open up the province to more development and tourism opportunities.
The airport whose construction is scheduled to start as soon as it is approved, will be built at a cost of US$2,067,676 (more than K12 million).
According to the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report submitted by KML on the proposed construction of the airport, the infrastructure will open up the North-Western Province to more development and tourism opportunities.
The report said KML, a company presently engaged in the development of three new mines in the province known as the Trident project, decided to construct the airport in order to address the challenges of transportation of goods and services to the area.
Both the construction and operational phases of the airport will give residents business opportunities to supply and transport raw materials like cement and stones which will have positive multiplier effects that will improve the economy of the province.
The estimated 80 job opportunities during the construction phase will improve the living standards of many households.
The airport will employ 40 permanent employees once in operation and Government agencies will also benefit in income.
“In order to improve regional and international connectivity with the Trident project, KML has proposed to construct an airport and associated infrastructure capable of handling larger passenger numbers as well as large cargo aircraft. This will provide access to tourism and other modes of transport,” the report says.
The airport will be located between Mwinilunga and Solwezi and will be 2,700 metres long and 42 metres wide and can therefore handle planes like the Airbus A30 and boeing 737.
The report says the airport will not affect the locals in the area as no rivers transverse the proposed site and there are no crop fields of the locals in Chief Musele’s chiefdom.