The managing director of Wunkoc Construction Company which got the contract to build Akon International Airport in President Salva Kiir’s hometown in Gogrial West County, Warrap State, on Thursday said that works are progressing well and they expect to complete construction on schedule.
Maleng Riing Deng said he is optimistic that his company will complete building the airport on time as they have brought in Sri Lankan engineers to expedite the work.
“Engineers from Sri Lanka are working at the site to control and speed up the work. We brought them because Sri Lanka and other Asian countries know how best to construct airports and buildings in waterlogged areas like Akon which is in a swampy area,” he revealed. “We are now pilling murram on the side of the airstrip which has been excavated. They will backfill the site with black cotton soil and other materials before applying the murram.”
“We are also fencing the airport but we are facing challenges in carrying out works because it is the rainy season and we have delays because the heavy trucks sometimes get stuck,” Riing added.
He said all the necessary machinery is on site and reassured that works are on course and that the company hopes to deliver the project within the contract period of three years.
The project includes the construction of a runway, taxiway, apron, two terminal buildings, and fencing.
On whether his company has the requisite experience to undertake the project, Riing said the company was formed in 2005 and has accomplished many projects including the supply of cars and the construction of the Tonj road.
“The company is not new. It was founded in 2005 and has carried out many contracts, including roads, within the country. We were the ones who did the Tonj Road but we did not put the murram because of the war which erupted in 2013,” he said. “ARC has now taken over that road and all the roads.”
Meanwhile, Victor Wek, Gogrial West County Commissioner Victor Wek said the works at the Akon International Airport are progressing well and that at the current pace, the company will meet the deadline.
“The construction of the airport is progressing well and some engineers came from Sri Lanka and murram has been piled near the airport. They bring the murram from Aweil South County in Northern Bahr El Ghazal State,” he explained. “As the commissioner, I can say the work is going on very well unlike last year when they had very few vehicles and no engineers. Now they have brought engineers from outside and have 120 big trucks on site.”
Asked about the security of foreign engineers considering that last year four Syrians building President Kiir’s village home were gunned down by a soldier in the same area, the commissioner said he has provided sufficient security.
“There are good relations between the staff of Wunkoc Construction Company and the community and I also provided security,” he reassured. “Soldiers from SSPDF are deployed to protect the workers from anyone who might cause violence and disrupt the work.”