Five consulting firms bidding to supervise Bole Airport expansion project

-Enterprise to negotiate with contractor on price

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Five international construction consulting firms are bidding to supervise the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport passenger terminal expansion project and consult the planned new mega-airport that will be constructed outside Addis Ababa. 

The Ethiopian Airports Enterprise recently floated a tender inviting international consulting companies to supervise the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport passenger terminal expansion project and consult the enterprise on the new mega international airport planned to be constructed outside the capital city. Chief executive officer of the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise Tewodros Dawit told The Reporter that 38 companies bought the bidding document but only five of them submitted their proposals to the enterprise.

According to Tewodros, the bidding committee was evaluating the bid proposals adding that the evaluation work will be finalized within three weeks. The design of the expansion project is drafted by a Singapore company called CPG Airport Architects. Different professionals of the enterprise and the Ethiopian Airlines are commenting on the final draft design. The final design will be unveiled after two weeks.

It is to be recalled that the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise was under preparation to undertake a major expansion work at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport passengers’ terminal at a cost of 250 million dollars.

The expansion project includes the construction of a new passenger terminal  as an extensions of the existing Terminal 1 (domestic and regional terminal) and terminal 2 (international terminal) with all related equipment and the construction of a new VIP passengers’ terminal.

The new terminal will house boarding areas, lounges, recreation centers, shopping malls, offices and other facilities. New boarding gates, boarding bridges, and new parking area are parts of the expansion project. The new parking area will serve passengers, and staff members.

The other major component of the expansion project is the VIP terminal. The first of its type in Ethiopia, the VIP terminal will be dedicated to leaders, senior government officials, diplomats and other dignitaries. The VIP terminal will have various saloons, lounges, conference rooms, recreation centers, duty free shops, IT center and exclusive parking lot.

A 250 million dollars loan has been secured from the government of China. An agreement was signed by the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and the Chinese government. The loan agreement was endorsed by the Ethiopian Parliament on Thursday. The Chinese construction firm, CCCC, is the contractor for the expansion project.  The expansion work is expected to be finalized within three years.

Tewodros said CCCC will present its price quotation to the enterprise, adding that there will be negotiations on price.

The enterprise is under preparation to embark on the international multi-hub project. The wining consulting firm will also undertake a study on the new airport planned to be built out of Addis Ababa. Three locations have been identified for the construction of the new international airport (mega hub). These locations are found near Modjo, Teji, and Dukem towns. The Ethiopian airport Enterprise is undertaking a study on the site location.

The consultant that the enterprise will hire for the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport expansion project will also undertake the study on the mega-hub project. The consultant would undertake feasibility, technical, and financial studies as well as produce airport masterplan. The consultant will be tasked to study the integration of the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport with the mega-hub.

Source: The Reporter