Originally scheduled for 2025 and announced in 2023, the project to build the new Andem International Airport in Gabon has just been officially launched. This project aims to provide the country with modern airport infrastructure, thus improving its connectivity both nationally and internationally.
Main features of the project
On March 28, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, President of the Transition, inaugurated the start of construction of the new Andem Airport by laying the foundation stone. The Burkinabe Ebomaf Group, specializing in construction and real estate, is responsible for carrying out the project.
The total cost of the project, approved during the inclusive national dialogue in April 2024, is estimated at 220 billion CFA francs (363 million USD). Delivery of the airport, initially scheduled for 2025, is now expected before 2030.
- Timeline: Construction, likely to begin on March 28, 2025, is expected to last four years, with delivery initially scheduled for the end of 2025 according to announcements in 2024, but revised to around 2030 according to the latest statements.
- Location: Located in Andem (Komo-Mondah Department), the airport will cover 1,500 hectares, although some sources suggest a larger area of 3,000 hectares.
- Objectives: Modernize Gabon’s airport infrastructure, align standards with international ones, and position Gabon as a regional hub in Central Africa.
Modernizing Gabon’s Airport Infrastructure
The projects, which began almost two years after their announcement by the President, include modern airport infrastructure, a presidential pavilion, and a parking lot. The goal is to modernize the country’s airport infrastructure and improve domestic and international connections.
Ebomaf guarantees that the airport design complies with international standards; however, it did not provide a detailed cost breakdown for each phase of this project. This achievement is part of efforts to develop the aviation sector in Gabon, a sector that has seen the nationalization of Afrijet.
Rehabilitation of the Current Airport
Therefore, the creation of Andem Airport should help update airport infrastructure and improve the country’s connections both domestically and internationally. Initially planned as part of a public-private partnership between the government and Gsez Airport, this project is considered a priority for the government.
This includes the rehabilitation of the existing airport, with the construction of a new terminal on the eastern side, as well as a connecting road connecting the Camp de Gaulle intersection to the Okala dispensary.
Ultimately, the Burkinabe company Ebomaf won the contract. Among the projects completed by this company are the San Pedro and Korhogo airports in Côte d’Ivoire, as well as the development of the Commercial and Administrative Activity Zone (ZACA) in Burkina Faso.
