Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, 13 Feb – Taiwan has donated US$30 million to cover a third of the cost of construction work to expand Sao Tome and Principe’s international airport, a project valued at US$90 million, a Sao Tome official said Monday.

The director of the project to expand and modernize the Sao Tome international airport, Antonio Aguiar, told Macauhub that the Taiwanese authorities had already pledged US$3 million a year over 10 years, and the beginning of the work was scheduled for 2008.

The technical and financial feasibility studies were carried out two years ago by the United States and cost US$350,000.

“We already have an agreement with Taiwan, but confirmation has to be given from other partners in order to ensure the involvement of a bank that can guarantee contributions are channelled to us,” Aguiar noted.

The Sao Tome authorities are currently analyzing the proposals from companies that applied to carry out the work, following a public tender launched a few months ago by those responsible for the project.

Amongst the ten candidates there are companies from South Africa, Spain, the United States, Nigeria and Portugal.

The project includes lengthening the runway from the current 2,150 meters to 3,300 meters, the construction of a park for airplanes and a cargo terminal, the extension of the air terminal as well as improving safety conditions by introducing new air navigation equipment.

Just over two months ago, Taiwan granted around US$1 million to repair part of the runway at Sao Tome international airport which was in a poor state of repair. (macauhub)