Name and Location
Blaise Diagne International Airport, Senegal.

Project Description
The project involves the construction of a new international airport near Ndiass, some 45 km east of Dakar. The new airport will replace the existing Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport.

The project will be developed in phases.

Phase 1 is planned to occupy an area of 2 600 ha. It will consist of a runway to cater for 25 000 airplanes a year, a 30 000 m² passenger terminal, an air traffic control block and tower, 30 aircraft parking bays, and other associated facilities.

The new airport will initially offer capacity of three-million passengers a year, 80 000 aircraft movements, and freight capacity of about 53 102 t/y. This will relieve the air and road congestion at the existing airport.

The second phase will see the construction of a second runway and all related facilities to accommodate some ten-million passengers a year.

Value
The project is estimated at €525-million, of which €379-million will be financed with senior loans.

Duration
The airport is expected to be operational towards the end of 2011.

The initial phase is planned to take about 33 months to complete, following the start of construction in 2008. The second phase will only begin once the maximum capacity of the first phase is reached.

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.

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).

Latest Developments
In mid-December 2010, the AfDB approved a €70-million senior loan, which will be used to finance the construction of the new airport.

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

Contact Details for Project Information
AfDB, Onike Nicol-Houra, tel +216 97 968 706 or email o.nicol@afdb.org.
AIBD general coordinator El Hadji Ibrahima Mane, tel +221 33 889 6501, fax +221 33 823 7085 or email imane@aibd.sn.
BMCE Capital, tel +221 33 889 0505 or fax +221 33 842 5999.
Dar al Handasah, tel +221 33 889 9091, fax +221 33 889 9900 or email info@dargroup.com.
Egis communications, tel +33 1 30 48 4412, fax +33 1 30 48 4419 or email communication.egis@egis.fr.
Studi, tel +221 33 860 5687 or fax +221 33 860 5688.
Tecsult director of projects Serge Lavergne, tel +1 514 287 8500, fax +1 514 287 8643 or email s.lavergne@tecsult.com.