Name of the Project
Blaise Diagne International Airport.

Location
The project involves the construction of a new international airport near Ndiass, about 45 km east of Dakar, in Senegal.

Client
In February 2006, the Senegal government, through APIX, Senegal’s investment promotion agency, created Aéroport International Blaise Diagne (AIBD), a public–private company – owned 45% by the Senegal government, and 55% by private entities.

These include Studi International (known as Saci in Senegal), Egis Avia, Tecsult International Limitée and Dar al Handasah.

Project Description
The new airport will replace the existing Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport.

The airport features a 42 000 m² passenger terminal and a 12 800 m² cargo terminal building that is designed to handle 50 000 t of cargo and 80 000 aircraft movements a year.

About three-million passengers are expected to pass through the airport every year.

Potential Job Creation
About 3 000 local jobs were created during the construction phase and 427 full-time jobs during the operational phase. Additional jobs are expected in engineering, maintenance, information technologies and security in the next few years.

Value
The project is estimated at €525-million.

The African Development Bank contributed more than €69-million in loans and acted as a mandated lead arranger to facilitate an additional €140-million in loans. Other major financiers are the Islamic Development Bank, Agence Française de Développement, the Saudi Fund and the West African Development Bank.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
The Blaise Diagne International Airport is now open to passengers.

The International Air Transport Association has forecasted an average passenger increase of 5% a year over the next 20 years.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Saudi Binladin Group (building contractor); Fraport (airport management); Banque Marocaine pour le Commerce Exterieur (BMCE) (financial adviser); BNP-Paribas (lead financial arranger); African Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank (finance).

On Budget and on Time?
The project is in progress.

Contact Details for Project Information
Blaise Diagne International Airport, tel +33 864 94 00, fax +33 867 42 57 or email info@aibd.sn.