Maputo — Construction work on the new domestic terminal at Maputo International Airport has been completed and the contractor is now installing the cooling system, electrical appliances, safety equipment, escalators and flight information display system.

Since 2010 both domestic and international flights have been taking off from the international terminal, with the Chinese company AFECC commencing construction in April last year.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, project manager Acacio Tuende said that the domestic terminal will be tested in July, with operations scheduled to start in August. The terminal is due to be inaugurated in October.

This is part of a major project for the expansion and upgrading of the airport, budgeted at 132 million US dollars. Of this amount, 32 million dollars will be spent on the domestic terminal.

This phase will be followed by the rehabilitation of the main runway, which is the final stage of upgrading the airport.

The new domestic terminal, designed to handle two million people per year, is fitted with two large halls with the capacity to accommodate 580 passengers at peak hours, with 300 in the departure lounge and 280 in arrivals.

The new premises have 14 check-in counters, offices, a main hall and commercial area, a health clinic, restaurants, pharmacies, and other facilities.

The expansion and modernisation of Maputo International Airport began in 2007. In November 2010 the new international passenger terminal was inaugurated. Its construction cost 75 million dollars funded by China in the form of a low interest loan.