The heavily damaged Tripoli international airport in Libya will soon be renovated with the rebuilding of its terminal and other structures.
The announcement comes a week after the internationally recognised Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni’s Government announced its decision to rename the airport as Idris International Airport after King Idris who was removed from power by Muammar al-Gaddafi in 1969.
The airport was destroyed by Libya Dawn rebels in 2014 after a five-week siege. The airport has been out of action since then.
The latest plan does not mention the status of the incomplete new terminal, work on which was stopped by Aeroports de Paris during the 2014 unrest.
Airport authority head Mohamed Beitelmal was quoted by Libya Herald as saying that the terminal’s reconstruction plan has been decided by Tripoli-based premier Khalifa Ghwell, who was appointed by the General National Congress (GNC).
The Organisation for Development of Administrative Centers (ODAC) will sign a contract with specialised companies for implementing the procurement.
Currently, a technical team formed of the airport authority and ODAC is working with a Turkish company to develop a draft plan for the reconstruction of the airport.
The debris from the spot is also being removed to prepare the site for the project.
While the exact cost of the reconstruction has not been revealed, earlier estimates suggest that almost $1bn will be required to carry out the work.
