Maputo (Mozambique) The Chinese construction firm, Anhui Foreign Economic Construction (Group) Co. Ltd (AFECC), has been awarded a contract to build the new terminal of the Maputo International Airport which includes the domestic airport at the cost of US$70 million, state-controlled Radio Mozambique reports on Monday.

The station says the new domestic terminal of the Maputo International Airport will be ready within 18 months after the minister of Transport and Communications, Paulo Zucula, laid the first stone of the project on Saturday.

An estimated US$36 million of the US$70million will be used for works at the domestic wing while the rest is for two large and modern lounges with capacity for 580 passengers per hour at peak times, 14 counters for check-in, equipped with modern technology for passenger service, plus a commercial area.

With the works in the old terminal, Mozambique Airports Company has prepared interim premises with all the conditions and facilities to ensure a level close to what service was provided in the old terminal. - APA